BREAKING: Taraba Court Grants N10Million Bail To Activist Abdulmumin Imam With Stringent Conditions
The court, presided over by Magistrate Chris Jonah, also imposed additional conditions requiring Imam to provide two resident sureties not below the rank of directors, submit title documents and landed property, and, refrain from making any social media statements relating to the case.
An Upper Area Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, has granted controversial bail conditions to embattled human rights activist, Abdulmumin Imam, imposing a ₦10 million bond, alongside stringent requirements.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Chris Jonah, also imposed additional conditions requiring Imam to provide two resident sureties not below the rank of directors, submit title documents and landed property, and, refrain from making any social media statements relating to the case.
SaharaReporters gathered that the bail was granted on Friday, with the case adjourned to May 20 for further mention.
However, multiple sources have raised an alarm over an alleged conspiracy involving the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the state Ministry of Justice, and the police command to intimidate and silence the activist.
According to insiders, key figures allegedly involved in the plot include SEMA Executive Secretary, Dr. Echuseh Audu; the Taraba State Commissioner of Justice, Yakubu Maikasuwa (SAN); the Commissioner of Police; and the state governor.
The sources accused the officials of orchestrating Imam’s arraignment before Magistrate Jonah at Upper Area Court 8, where what they termed “deliberately harsh and calculated” bail conditions were imposed to frustrate his release.
“The magistrate knows it would cost him his job if he denies bail outright, so what he did was to grant bail with conditions that are practically impossible to meet,” one source told SaharaReporters.
Another source noted that the bail conditions effectively amount to a denial of bail, particularly given that the charges against Imam are not considered severe under Nigerian law.
“The law is clear, stringent bail conditions can be as good as denying bail outright, especially in cases where the alleged offence is not grave,” the source said.
Suspicion deepened further as sources disclosed that immediately after setting the bail conditions, Magistrate Jonah reportedly left town without waiting for the defendant to begin the process of meeting the bail requirements.
“Immediately he finished setting the conditions, he left. He didn’t even wait for the process to begin. The magistrate is leaving town today,” a source revealed.
The development comes amid mounting claims that the case against Imam is politically motivated, driven by his persistent criticism of the Taraba State Government and his exposés of alleged corruption, particularly within SEMA.
“It is obvious that the justice commissioner, police commissioner, and the governor are conspiring to silence him. They want to intimidate him ahead of the upcoming primary elections,” another source alleged.
The source further claimed that the governor, allegedly linked to a recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has come under scrutiny for controversial political decisions, including accusations that he “betrayed his benefactor,” TY Danjuma.
Imam, according to insiders, has been actively exposing alleged systemic corruption in government agencies, including biased appointments and the misuse of official resources.
“Most of his commissioners have sold their official vehicles or even used them as collateral to secure loans of less than ₦5 million,” one source alleged.
“He uses a select few agencies and ministries to execute massive corruption, and Imam has been bringing that to light,” the source added.
Particularly troubling are claims involving SEMA, where funds meant for relief materials are allegedly being diverted.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Imam had been forcibly transported from Abuja to Taraba State, where sources say his health was deteriorating.
