At about 9.30pm on saturday April 15, 2017 teams of armed policemen led by Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP Muhammad Lawal-Mashi stormed the Zaria Motel in Kaduna GRA and arrested 53 persons for participating in a Gay wedding.
Our reporter who was in Zaria town at the time of the incident reported that the police worked on a tip off of a gathering of over 70 men to conduct and celebrate a gay marriage between one Farouk and Sanusi in the Motel.
While some guests were able to escaped along side the couple, 53 people were arrested and detained at the Cheddiya police station.
On Wednesday 19, 2017 the 53 men were brought to the Cheddiya Magistrate court and were charged with conspiracy, unlawful assembly and belonging to a gang of unlawful society according to the police prosecutor; Nassir Manir. He said the offences contravened Sections 97, 100 and 197(a) of Criminal Procedure Code of Nigeria.
The arrested persons included; Anas Mohhamad, Jibril Abdullahi, Taofeek Olanrewaju, Mohammed Yayale, Mustapha Ababukar, Musa Ibrahim, Inuwa Bolaji Umar, Suleiman Usman, Sagir Mohammed, Hashim Yakubu, Habib Maikudi and Yohanna Idrissu among others, all of various addresses.
The accused persons lamented they were tortured by the police and detained for more than the lawful 24 hours which was in contrary to the provisions of the constitution. The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released on bail in line with sections 35 (4) and 36 (5) of the Constitution as requested by their legal counsel.
The judge granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of #500,000 each, with one surety each in the like sum and ordered that each surety must present two passport size photographs, valid government-issued identity card, a utility bill and a valid GSM number.
The judge; Mr. Auwal Musa-Aliyu adjourned the case until May 8, 2017 for further hearing.
Compiled by Femi Akinyemi
