From Nahum Sule, Jalingo
Taraba State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mike Dio Jen, has dragged one Mr Abdumumuni Imam, a staff with the state university and a social media activist, over what he described as deformation of character against his person.
Jen has approached the court to compel Imam to provide proof of his allegations against him that he, (the commissioner), has directed the stoppage of imam’s salary from the University.
When the case came up for mentioned, counsel to the defendant, Isa Buba, informed the court that his client had domestic accident with leg fracture.
Buba also challenged the sudden withdrawal of the prosecuting counsel, Ganko Hassan from a similar case where she was defending the accuse, to prosecute him in another court.
The defendant counsel insisted that confidential information were given to Barr Ganki, and so has violated the professional practice of the law.
However, counsel to the plaintiff, Fonga Umaru, holding brief for Ganki Hassan, urged the court invoke section 97 of the criminal justice law to compel the accuse to appear in court to defend his claims.
Fonga, on behalf of Hassan, told the court that evidential proof were not presented to ascertain the reality of the accuse illness, therefore, the claim by the defending counsel was a mere tactics to stall prosecution of the matter.
Meanwhile, the trial judge, Ishaq Umar of the Upper Area Court 10, adjourned to the matter to October 13, 2026 for hearing.
The judge also directed the defending counsel to ensure the presence of the accuse on the next adjourned date.