An Upper Area Court sitting in Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has vacated the arrest order on self acclaimed sex therapist Hauwa Muhammed popularly known as Jaruma.
The presiding judge, Ismail Abdullahi while ruling on the application for restoration of her bail filed by her lawyer, Odiba James, vacated the arrest order made on February 23, 2022, following her failure to appear in court for trial lately.
At the hearing which resumed on Wednesday May 25, Jaruma’s lawyer pleaded with the court over the failure of his client to show up as expected, saying it was because of her ill health.
The defence assured the court that his client would not jump bail and would be of good behaviour.
The prosecution counsel, Inegbe while raising objection to the application by the defence counsel, described granting the application as a sacrilege to the sanctity of the court.
He pointed out that the defendant had violated all the orders of the court made in respect of the case, particularly for making public comments on her social media handles. He, therefore, urged the court to deny the application.
In his ruling, the judge held that in the interest of justice, there should be no hindrance to the substantive suit and bail should not be denied to punish the defendant since she has presented herself 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.”
The court also ordered that Jaruma should submit her passport to the court registry on the condition that if she would not jump bail and is of good behaviour in the two subsequent adjournments, then the passport would be returned to her.
The court also told her to respect the adjournment of the case and make herself available for the trial.
The judge, therefore, adjourned the case to June 23, 2022, for a hearing.
Recall that the kaymata seller was arraigned before an Upper Area Court in the Zuba area of Abuja on January 28 for alleged defamation of character, false news publication and intimidation of actress Regina Daniels’ husband Ned Nwoko, on social media.
