"Abdulhakeem Nuhu, El-Tahdam Exploration Limited Case Adjourned; Court Upholds Village Heads, Imams' Plea for Restraining Order"

By Umar Faruk

Chief Magistrate Court 1, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria - September 06, 2025 (Series News Online)

The Honorable Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Birnin Kebbi has adjourned the arraignment of Abdulhakeem Nuhu and El-Tahdam Exploration Limited to September 16, 2025. The adjournment was necessitated by the absence of the 1st defendant in court and the need for the 2nd defendant to be properly before the Court as  provided by the Administration of Criminal Justice, 2021, Kebbi State.

The application, which was brought pursuant to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2021, Kebbi State, sought for the extension of the order restraining the defendants, their agents, privies, workmen or whoever named from going to Libata, Kabirba, and Kwanga Villages, Warra district, Ngaski Local Government Area, Kebbi State.

During the proceedings, the learned counsel for the Complainants, Barrister Y.B Aminu, informed the court that the defendants were not present in court and that there was no official communication between the court registry and the defendants. He urged the court to adjourn the matter at the instance of the defendants and further applied for a fresh criminal summons to be served on them in the interest of justice.

In response, the learned counsel for the 2nd defendant, El-Tahdam Exploration Limited, Barrister Lagalo D. Lagalo, expressed no objection to the adjournment. However, he noted that the counsel who was supposed to appear before the court was in Abuja and was only served with a hearing notice a day ago.

After hearing the submissions of both counsels, the Honorable Chief Magistrate, Aliyu Muhammad Ngaski, adjourned the matter to September 16, 2025, for the arraignment of the defendants. His worship also granted the application seeking an extension of the injunction restraining the defendants from going to the villages in question.

The court further ordered the registry to effect service of a criminal summons on all the defendants against the new date and directed the 2nd defendant to comply with Section 460 and 462 of the Kebbi State ACJL 2021 by writing a letter appointing its representative in the case at hand.

Reacting to the court's ruling, the learned counsel for the Complainants, Barrister Y.B Aminu, expressed satisfaction with the adjournment and the extension of the interim injunction. "This is a victory for our clients, and we are confident that justice will be served in this matter," he said.

The learned counsel for the 2nd defendant, Barrister Lagalo, noted that they would ensure compliance with the court's order and look forward to the next adjourned date. "We will ensure that our client complies with the court's order and appear before the court on the next adjourned date," he said.

The case involves Haruna Muhammad Jika, Village Head of Libata, Salihu Abubakar, Village Head of Kabirba, Yahaya Nuture, Village Head of Kwanga, Liman Haliru Sabo, Liman Ibrahim Gambari Kwanga, and 22 others as complainants, and Abdulhakeem Nuhu and El-Tahdam Exploration Limited as defendants. The defendants are accused of criminal conspiracy, disturbance of public peace, and inciting disturbances, contrary to sections 60 sub- (2), 78, and 79 sub- (1) of Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2011.