By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
In the heart of Gwagwalada, the FCT’s Upper Area Court takes decisive action as a bench warrant is sanctioned for the apprehension of Gambo Sambo, the accused surety allegedly implicated in the act of screening an offender.
Facing charges related to screening an offender, Sambo, a resident of New Kutunku, Gwagwalada, finds himself at the centre of a legal storm.
In a swift move during the court proceedings, Judge Malam Abdullahi Abdulkarim, responding to an oral plea by the Prosecution Counsel, S.K. Iyakwo, revokes the defendant’s bail due to his unexplained absence.
The judge, not mincing words, issues a bench warrant for Sambo’s arrest, compelling him to be brought before the court.
The surety, in turn, is notified to provide a compelling reason why the bail bond should not be forfeited.
With a looming February 13 hearing date, the legal saga unfolds, leaving room for speculations on the unfolding events.
The prosecutor’s plea to revoke bail stems from the defendant’s failure to appear and defend the charges brought against him.
Detailing the course of events, Iyakwo narrates how Sambo, on April 23, 2023, visited the Gwagwalada Police Station to stand surety for Yakubu Baba of Old Kutunku, Gwagwalada Abuja.
Baba, facing accusations of criminal breach of trust and cheating, had Sambo vouching for him.
Despite assurances, the defendant fails to deliver on his promise to produce Baba for prosecution by May 30, 2023.
The consequence of this failure, as per the bond agreement, could lead to the forfeiture of N550,000 to the Federal Government.
The deliberate refusal to produce Baba for prosecution constitutes an offense, as outlined in section 167 of the Penal Code, intensifying the legal complexities surrounding this case.
As the legal drama unfolds, the court proceedings leave a trail of questions, demanding answers as the date of the next hearing approaches.
