A Magistrate Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of two Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) operatives accused of burglary and theft after they repeatedly failed to appear for legal proceedings.
The order, issued by Senior Magistrate Malam Aminu Sani, followed a plea from the plaintiff’s counsel, Surajo Garba Gusau, who emphasized the legal necessity of the accused appearing in court for uninterrupted proceedings.
The NSCDC operatives are among five individuals, including senior staff members of the Zamfara Urban and Regional Planning (ZUREP), charged with breaking into a shop and stealing property belonging to Yusha’u Aliyu. Despite previous court summons, the accused failed to appear, prompting the bench warrant.
In response to the defense counsel’s plea to dismiss the case on grounds of the accused being state civil servants, Gusau argued that only specified officials—such as the President, Vice President, Governors, and Deputies—are granted immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution. He challenged the defense to provide any constitutional backing for their request to discharge the case.
The court has adjourned the matter to January 15 for further ruling on the submissions by both parties.
This high-profile case underscores the need for accountability among public servants, with legal experts urging the accused to respect the judicial process.
