By Milcah Tanimu

A Federal High Court in Kano has issued a warrant of arrest for a Lebanese man, Maged Ali-Taan, and his employee, Mustapha Tiamiyu, over their failure to appear before the court to enter their plea on charges of alleged arson. The Inspector General of Police brought the charges against Ali-Taan, the Managing Director of Alibert Products Nigeria Limited, and Tiamiyu. The court had given the defense counsel an opportunity to provide the defendants for arraignment, but they failed to appear.

The prosecution counsel informed the court that the defense counsel had promised to produce the defendants on the last adjourned date but failed to do so. The defense counsel explained that a letter had been sent to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking the transfer of the case to Abuja. However, the judge expressed disappointment, stating that the case is a criminal matter, and adjourned it until January 17, 2024, for arraignment.

The defendants are facing charges of conspiracy, arson, and an attempt to tamper with an electric transformer. The alleged offenses took place on December 20, 2021, when the defendants were accused of setting fire to a building in Kano and making a fraudulent insurance claim. They are also alleged to have attempted to tamper with electric cables and a transformer supplying electricity to the building, violating provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.