National Trail Publisher Still In Detention Despite Court Order

A High Court in Maiduguri has ordered the release of Mr Inuwa Bwala, Publisher of National Trail Newspaper from detention.
It would be recalled that Bwala was arrested along with his driver by the police in Abuja on January 17, 2017 and has been in detention in Maiduguri since then without being charged to court.
They were picked in the premises of National Trail newspaper, Abuja and taken to SARS office from where he was moved along with his driver to Maiduguri.
Bwala who is also the Spokesman of factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has remained in detention 48 hours after the High Court order that he be released along with his driver.
His lawyers and associates got reprieve for him at the High Court of Justice Borno state where Justice Hadiza Ali Jos ruled that Bwala and Mohammed Audu, (his driver) should be released .
The ruling obtained Monday January 30 said “It is hereby ordered that the applicants be released from custody pending the hearing of the originating summons.
However many observers Monday night expressed fears that a top official in the state may have stepped in to frustrate Bwala’s release. The development was described as worrisome.
Bwala was a former Commissioner of Information to Governor Kashim Shettima before he resigned.
Reports said he was arrested over investigations into alleged attempt on the life of incumbent deputy governor of Borno state, Alhaji Usman Mamman Durkwa. The clash involving some thugs for which Bwala was recently arrested occurred a day before the 2015 Presidential election in Nigeria.
“The refusal to release him after the court order confirms to us that Bwala’s arrest was politically motivated. We are also sad that his driver was also arrested and has been detained as well. This is quite unfortunate,” said one of his close relations on Monday night.

Signed:
Aaron Ossai
Editor, National Trail
No. 10 Onitsha Crescent,
Off Gimbiya Street,
Area 11, Garki, Abuja


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