A Magistrate Court in Birnin Kebbi dismissed a contempt charge filed against Safiyanu Bala, a factional chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The defendant was taken to court from the hospital to continue the hearing.
At the resumed sitting, the state prosecutor, Magistrate Abdullahi-Koko, informed the court that he had discovered that the same case was already pending before the High Court in Birnin Kebbi.
He urged the court to dismiss the case so that the parties might pursue the matter in the appropriate court.
Mudasir Sani, counsel for the defence, concurred with the prosecution and confirmed that the case was already before the High Court.
Magistrate Abubakar Abdullahi-Koko ruled that the matter was dismissed based on the pleas of both parties.
“The case is hereby struck out,” the magistrate ordered.
Remember that the defendant was taken to court by Abdulrazak Abubakar, another ADC factional chairman, for allegedly violating a court order and inciting public disobedience.
At the last sitting, defence counsel Ahmad Fingilla walked out of court after the magistrate declined to recuse himself due to claimed bias.