by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
After spending 18 months in prison remand for condemning the killing of a university student, Samuel Deborah, in Sokoto State, by mobs attack over alleged blasphemy, Mrs. Rhoda Jatau regained her freedom as Bauchi State High Court granted her bail.
A human rights activist told journalists in confidence that the reason for keeping Mrs Rhoda in remand for that long was for ‘her safety and security,’ considering the religious coloration of the matter, a reason he said was not tenable.
It was also gathered that, the High Court, presided over by Justice Fatima Jibrin, heard and granted the bail application brought before it by the legal practitioner representing Mrs Rhoda, Barr Danboyi.
The sitting of the court was done away from public notice, considering the hype and cries that her matter had generated, particularly in recent months.
It was further gathered that the release, through the order of the court, was facilitated by an executive order (directive) by the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir.
The source, a human rights activist, disclosed that there were series of meetings, consultations, and discussions leading to the granting of the bail.
The activist said that “The important thing is that, finally, Rhoda Jatau has been released and reunited with her family.”
As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to get a reaction from her immediate family members and the legal practitioner representing her failed, as neither her husband nor the Lawyer could be reached on the phone.