A GROUP, Concerned Kano Citizens for Justice, has cautioned against tarnishing the image of the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Alhassan Ado Doguwa, while being investigated for an alleged crime.
The group said following the arrest and subsequent arraignment of the House Leader, he has been put on a media trial and painted in grubby colours that are at variance with his well known reputation as a leader with integrity.
In a statement on behalf of the group by Nura Khalil Tudun Wada, CKCJ said while under Nigerian laws, a suspect is assumed innocent until proven guilty the manner Doguwa’s case is being handled gives the impression that the Majority Leader has already been tried and convicted.
“The high interest shown in the case by politically exposed persons as well as the excitement in the camp of opposition parties in Kano has further confirmed that there’s more to the case than meets the eye.
“Immediately after Doguwa was arrested for instance, the NNPP issued a statement commending the Kano State Command of the Nigeria Police for the arrest and prosecution of the Majority Leader while lamenting how he prevented their candidate from winning the election.”
The group said the timing of the arrest, coming just after he was declared winner of the election also raises suspicion as it is well known that as one of the few surviving APC Reps members from Kano to win his election, he may exact further damage on the opposition parties with less than two weeks to the Governorship/State House of Assembly elections insisting that the trial is politically motivated to stop Doguwa from becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly.
It said : “With the emergence of Tinubu from the Southwest as President-elect and the vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima from the Northeast, just as it obtained in the Obasanjo era, the Speaker position is automatically expected to go to the Northwest after the Southeast takes the Senate Presidency and North-central takes the Deputy Senate President slot.
“It is public knowledge that out of the ranking members returning to the House of Representatives from the Northwest, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, having won elections to the House a record six times and currently serving as Majority Leader with past experiences as Chief Whip and chairman of various committees, stands as the most qualified to occupy the position in that region!
“They have master-minded the current trial to tarnish the image of the Majority Leader in order to stop him from vying for the position of Speaker and to embarrass him in public so as to weaken his resolve to contest position he is amply qualified to occupy.”
Tudun Wada said while the group is not averse to Doguwa being tried as every accused person should, the process should not be an unfair one which exposes the accused to unnecessary ridicule and embarrassment in the eyes of the public.
“We are of the view that if one commits an offence, he should be prosecuted and if found guilty be punished but this should be done in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Consequently, we insist that Doguwa should be taken to a High Court while his right as an accused should not be tampered with.
“The situation where an accused is taken to a court for an offence outside its jurisdictions based on a holden charge simply to inflict torture on the accused has long been frowned at by the Supreme Court which ruled against such wanton abuse of human rights,” the group stated.