A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, has remanded a popular philanthropist, Dr Emmanuel Musa, alongside three others, in prison custody over the alleged murder of Thomas Godwin Zamfara, an aide to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Chief Magistrate Uwani Danladi Mohammed gave the remand order on Friday, July 4, 2025, following an application by the prosecution. The court ordered that the defendants be held in prison custody until July 7, 2025, pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Adamawa State Ministry of Justice.
Those remanded include Godwin Chukukuyada, Danlami Nuhu, Ibrahim Bakari (also known as Mai Cross), and Dr Emmanuel N. Musa. A fifth suspect, Stephen Peter, remains at large.
The accused are facing charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, offences punishable under sections 60 and 191 of the Adamawa State Penal Code Law, 2018 (as amended).
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the alleged crime took place on April 15, 2025, along the Fadama Rake-Kala’a road. The FIR stated that the victim was found unconscious by the roadside and later confirmed dead at the hospital.
The prosecution alleged that Dr Emmanuel Musa financed and masterminded the killing.
During the court session, prosecuting counsel Ezekiel Gidauna applied to substitute the earlier FIR filed on May 19, 2025, with a new FIR dated July 4, 2025.
However, defence counsel G. C. Adikwu, who appeared alongside M. I. El-Yakub, objected, arguing that they were yet to receive a copy of the new FIR.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Mohammed overruled the defence objection and ordered that the new FIR be read to the defendants in Hausa, a language they understood. After interpretation, all the defendants, including Dr Musa — who requested a second interpretation before confirming understanding — acknowledged they understood the charges.
The court did not take their pleas, as the case is still awaiting legal advice from the DPP.
