Maiduguri, Nigeria - Two more suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, Bashir Mohammed and Tijjani Bukar Usman, have been granted bail. One other suspect, Alhaji Bukar Gaji, had earlier been granted bail by Justice Abdullahi Yerima Sanya of the High Court 9 in Maiduguri, Borno State.
They are among the 77 persons standing trial over homicide which is punishable with death as provided for in Section 221 of the Penal Code, as well as arson, which is punishable with life imprisonment.
According to court papers obtained yesterday, the suspects were granted bail on April 26, 2010 by the presiding Judge, Justice Gana Alkali Wakil in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties who are residents in Maiduguri.
The bail applications were granted following the inability of the prosecutors to provide any incriminating evidence against them. A member of the group, Ibrahim Adamu Ali, had earlier died of "febrile illness", a typical high fever related ailment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).
Hearing on the case continues on May 26, 2010.