The Police, on Monday, arraigned two suspects – Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci – in connection with the May 12 lynching of Miss Deborah Samuel, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto.
Deborah, a 200 level Home Economics student, was lynched by a mob for alleged blasphemy. She was stoned to death and her body burnt.
The suspects, said to be are co-students of the deceased, were arrested and charged to a Sokoto Chief Magistrate Court for alleged involvement in the crime.
They pleaded not guilty of the charges.
The prosecuting inspector is Khalil Musa.
Prof. Mansur Ibrahim, who led a team of 34 lawyers for the defendants, filed for their bail on liberal terms, citing constitutional requirements and portions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
The accused were held in a detention facility after the trial judge (name withheld for security reasons) reserved his decision on the bail application.
Deborah was accused of defaming Islam on a WhatsApp conversation platform set up by her classmates before being killed, and she allegedly refused to remove her post when asked to do so.
Following the arrest of those tied to Deborah’s lynching, a violent street protest ensued, with protestors demanding that security forces release them immediately.
On Saturday, Governor Aminu Tambuwal ordered a 24-hour curfew on Sokoto metropolis.
However, he lifted the round-the-clock curfew on Monday, and put in place a dusk till dawn restriction.
– Media Report