By Abdulmumin Giwa
Following a clampdown on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) by the Nigerian Police in Kaduna on Sunday and subsequent arrest, 12 minors were freed by the court after spending a night in Police custody.
A total of 22 IMN members were arrested by the police from different parts of the metropolis as they trekked their way to the venue of the annual Ashura commemoration made up of nine males and 13 females.
Inspector Dogara, the Police prosecutor presented the IMN members before the Upper Shariah Court Judge at Rock Road, Tudun Wada Kaduna accusing them of belonging to an unlawful society banned by the state government for which they pleaded not guilty.
The judge demanded the police to present evidences of the charges against the IMN members for which the prosecutor demanded to be given a grace of two weeks to do that.
Those arrested were released on bail with the condition of a surety that is either a village or a district head and N25, 000:00 each. Each of the surety must not have evaded tax in the last one year as well.
Among the 10 persons waiting to be bailed, made up of four males and six females is a nursing mother with a six months old baby.
A mild drama took place at the court when newsmen were restricted and disallowed to report the court case. A court official who begged for anonymity said nobody would want to put himself in trouble because of the Governor’s interest in the case and loose his job.