A Kano State High Court has reduced the bail conditions for Islamic cleric Ibrahim Abdullahi Isa, who is facing allegations of forging land ownership documents for two properties along Ahmadu Bello Way in Kano.
Justice Jamilu Shehu Suleiman reviewed the earlier bail terms after the cleric spent about two weeks in custody without meeting the conditions set by a Senior Magistrate Court.
Malam Isa is accused of forging title documents that allegedly belonged to Kassim Usman Baba and Audu Yaro Fagge.
He was first arraigned on January 21 before a magistrate court presided over by Mustapha Sa’ad Datti.
At the time, the magistrate granted him bail of N20 million with two sureties in the same amount. One surety was required to be a traditional ruler with an official letter from the Kano Emirate Council, while the other had to be a well-known businessman owning property worth N50 million within Kano.
The court also ordered the cleric to submit his international passport.
Unable to meet these conditions, Isa, through his lawyers Abubakar Abdullahi Isa and Bashir Sabiu, approached the High Court and requested a review.
His lawyers argued that the offence is bailable and that the bail terms were too harsh.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Suleiman agreed to relax the conditions. He reduced the bail amount from N20 million to N5 million.
The judge also ordered that the cleric provide two sureties: one being his lawyer, Barrister Abubakar Abdullahi Isa, and the other any of his siblings, who must submit an affidavit showing their financial capacity.
