COURT DRAMA: Swear on Qu’ran and I'll Drop Charges – Complainant Promises the Accused
A
prosecution witness, Hassana Suleiman, has told a Mararaba Grade 1
Upper Area Court, in Nasarawa state that she would drop the case against
two accused persons if they swear on the Qu’ran.
Suleiman
of Angwan Kwata made the pledge in her testimony in the two-count
charge of conspiracy and theft charge she brought against Mero Shuaibu,
30, and Jemilla Bello, 16, of Orange Market, Mararaba.
“I am willing to drop the case, if the accused persons agree to swear on the Holy Qu’ran that they did not steal my money.
She
told the court that two traders conspired and stole N15,000 from her
bag when she went to their shop to buy three-seater cushion chairs from
them.
“When
I entered the shop of one of the accused, I kept my bag and asked the
duo to borrow me N200 to pay the commercial motorcyclist, because I did
not have N1,000 change. They told me they did not have
N200, so I left
my bag on the floor in the shop, went outside to look for change, which I
eventually got, and gave the motorcyclist N200.
“On
my coming back into the room, I saw them searching my bag and I shouted
at them telling them it is a bad attitude,” Suleiman said.
After inspecting her bag and she discovered that N15,000 was missing.
“When
I asked them if they were the ones who took the money, they denied it
and wanted to make trouble with me. I reported the matter at the Police
Station,” she said.
Friday
Adaji, the Prosecutor, told the court that Suleiman reported the matter
at the ‘A’ Division Police Station on October 30, 2013.
The
two accused, Shuaibu and Bello, who were arraigned on 14 November on a
two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft pleaded not guilty to
the charge.
The
Judge, Mr. Albert Maga, advised both parties to think whether or not
they would agree to swear on the Holy Qua’ran as demanded by the
complainant. He further adjourned the case to December 4, 2013, for
continuation.
