A Chief Magistrate Court in Yola, Adamawa State, has remanded philanthropist Dr. Emmanuel Musa and three others in prison custody over the alleged m*rder of Thomas Godwin, popularly known as Zamfara.
The deceased was k!lled by assailants in April 2025. The court's Chief Magistrate, Uwani Danladi Mohammed, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case until July 7, 2025, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to provide legal counsel.
Dr. Musa, the president of the Emmanuel Foundation, had declared earlier this year that he would like to run for governor of Adamawa State in 2027.
Among the defendants arraigned in court are Dr. Emmanuel N. Musa, Danlami Nuhu, Ibrahim Bakari (also known as Mai Cross), Stephen Peter (who is still at large), and Godwin Chukukuyada.
The accused persons were arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. According to the prosecution, Dr. Musa allegedly instigated and sponsored the defendants to carry out the m8rder.
The First Information Report (FIR) tendered in court stated that the accused attacked on his way from Fadama Rake to Kala’a, his hometown, on April 15, 2025, leaving him unconscious on the roadside, and he was later confirmed dead at the hospital.
The court ruled that the FIR be substituted, read, and interpreted to the accused persons in Hausa language they understand. The defendants were asked if they understood the allegations, they said they understood the allegations, but plea-taking was not done as the case is a holding charge.
Addressing the court on its failure to ask the defendants whether they were guilty or not, G. C. Adikwu argued that the provision of the law is that whenever the defendants are asked whether they understand the allegations against them, they must also be asked whether they are guilty or not.
The police arrested nine suspects in connection with the m*rder.
