Jumping Bail: Court Cancels Order To Re-arrest Jaruma

The re-arrest order against Hauwa Muhammad, also known as Jaruma, has been dismissed by an upper area court in Zuba, Abuja.

Jaruma’s re-arrest was ordered by the court in February after she failed to appear in court for the continuation of the defamation trial filed against her by billionaire businessman Ned Nwoko.

In January 2022, the businessman filed a police complaint accusing Jaruma of defamation of character, false news publication, and intimidation.

After four days of police detainment, Jaruma was granted bail by the court on January 28.

In February, the trial reopened. Her absence from the trial, however, caused the presiding judge to revoke her bail and re-arrest her for being absent during the trial.

The judge accused her of avoiding court despite knowing the trial date, but Jaruma appealed the court order through her attorney, Odiba James, who apologized for his client’s absence during the case’s hearing.

The lawyer said that the situation arose as a result of Jaruma’s illness and that her action was not intentional. James further promised the court that his client would be of good behaviour and would not jump bail.

The prosecution, on the other hand, objected to the application, claiming that accepting it would be sacrilege to the court’s sanctity.

The presiding judge granted Jaruma’s appeal, adding that the entrepreneur should not be refused bail as a kind of punishment because she had appeared in court.

The judge said, “In the interest of justice, it is the court’s opinion that there should be no hindrance to the substantive matter.

“It is a time that bail should not be denied to punish the defendant since she has presented herself. The court might temper justice with mercy.

“The earlier order of arrest is hereby vacated. But the order for the social media that she should not make any publication and for her not to disrespect the court order is restored.”