Lagos, Nigeria - Two Muslims, Sulayman Abayomi Alli and Kabiru Shofidiya have been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court Lagos State, over an alleged seditious publication in their magazine drumming support for Boko Haram (western education is evil).
In an article entitled "Every Muslim is Boko Haram," the defendants argued amongst other things: "All Muslims are Boko Haram though not in membership but in ideology and obedience to Allah.
The article also slammed the Eyo festival in Lagos and Osun-Osogbo in Osun State.
The duo was charged to court over the alleged offence by the police on a two count charge in which they had both pleaded not guilty.
According to the charge, "the defendants had on August 30, 2009 at Abbatoir, Agege, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District did conspire with others now at large to commit a felony to wit: seditious publication and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 51(1) (a) of the Criminal Code Law Cap C17 Vol.2 Laws of Lagos State 2003.
"That you, Sulayman Abayomi Alli and Kabiru Shofidiya on or about August 30, 2009 at Abbatoir, Agege, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District did publish and or produce the magazine called 'Al-minbar' and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Law Cap C17 Vol.2 Laws of Lagos State 2003."
Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Ajibola Kaka urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms, that his clients are young undergraduates and he believes that they do not have the intention of committing the offence they are charged with.
Kaka told the court that his clients have been in police custody since September 1, that they were first arrested in August 30 and out of seven of them that were arrested five have been released but the other two have since remained in custody.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Femi Adamson, however did not oppose the application for bail. He urged the court to make the bail conditions as such that defendants will appear in court whenever they were needed.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Adetokubo Taiwo granted the defendants bail with the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be a blood relations and show evidence of tax payment.
She, however, adjourned till October 13 for trial.
Daily Champion recalls that no fewer than 100 Boko Haram adherents were dealt with by security agents in Maiduguri, Borno State. The sect leader, Mohammed Yusuf was eventually killed in the operation launched by security operatives after the sect had killed more than 300 people including Christians and set police stations ablazed.