By Ibrahim Muhammad, Gusau
A court official was allegedly assaulted while attempting to serve a court summons on Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
The official had gone to serve Kaura with a summons to appear before the magistrate court 1 over an alleged criminal defamation of a former lawmaker, Hon. Yusuf Alhassan Kanoma.
The Counsel to the plaintiff, barrister Ahmad Abdullahi disclosed this to journalists after the continuation of proceedings in the case filed before the court.
He said the court had earlier issued an order for substituted service on the defendant.
However, on getting to Kaura’s residence, the defendant allegedly ordered the beating of the court official who was carrying out his lawful duty.
“The matter has been officially reported to the court for further action,” the plaintiff’s counsel said and disappoinment over incident
He also noted that the defendant failed to appear in court on Monday, instead, a lawyer from the State Ministry of Justice appeared to represent him, which he argued was improper.
“Although the law allows the Attorney General of a state to take over any criminal proceeding and decide to halt it, due process must be followed,” he said.
The counsel insisted that Mustafa Jafaru Kaura must appear in person to answer the allegations of criminal defamation filed against him by former Zamfara Assembly member, Hon. Yusuf Alhassan Kanoma.
The court is expected to rule on the incident involving the assaulted official and the propriety of the Ministry of Justice’s appearance during the next sitting.
