Ugo Willy, Gombe
A Gombe based human rights activist, Comrade Musa Ali Maishanu, has won a case filed against him at the Gombe State High Court by the Gombe State office of the National Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
NAPTIP had through the Nigeria Police Force, arraigned Maishanu at a lower court for allegedly threatening to organise a protest against the agency’s perceived inaction in handling a case involving a girl.
The girl, Hauwa Musa (also known as ‘Ladidi’), was reportedly abducted over twenty years ago while she was a toddler and recently married off in Adamawa State.
But Maishanu, the North East Regional Coordinator of an international organisation ‘Global Pan-Africanism Network’ (GPAN), had threatened to organise a protest over the alleged inaction by NAPTIP on the matter.
The threat led to his arrest and detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequent arraignment in court by the Police.
However, the Gombe State High Court 3 (Appeal Section) presided over by Justice Habila Haruna Kereng, recently dismissed the case against Maishanu.
Justice Habila Haruna Kereng, ruled that the activist, Maishanu, did not commit any offense and therefore discharged him.
Barrister Sunday Nbobo, counsel to Maishanu, explained that the plaintiff failed to appear in court to present evidence against his client, leading to the case’s dismissal.
Expressing his excitement about the victory, Maishanu stated that it would enable him to focus on his activities without distraction.
