The Chief Magistrate Court III in Yola, Adamawa State, issued an order on Friday for the remand of Dr. Emmanuel Musa, a prominent philanthropist, and three co-defendants in prison. They are accused of the alleged killing of Thomas Godwin Zamfara, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Danladi Mohammed, adjourned the case to Monday, July 7, to await legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) within the Ministry of Justice, Adamawa State.

The defendants arraigned before the court include Godwin Chukukuyada, Danlami Nuhu, Ibrahim Bakari (also known as Mai Cross), and Dr. Emmanuel Musa. Another accused, Stephen Peter, is currently at large. All were arraigned on charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, offenses that contravene sections 60 and 191 of the Adamawa State Penal Code 2018, as amended.

According to the first information report (FIR) presented in court, the alleged incident occurred on April 15. The defendants reportedly attacked the late Thomas Godwin Zamfara while he was traveling from Fadama Rake to his hometown, Kala’a. The prosecution detailed that the deceased was left unconscious by the roadside and, upon being rushed to a hospital, was pronounced dead by a medical doctor. Furthermore, the prosecution informed the court that Dr. Emmanuel Musa was identified as the individual who instigated and sponsored the other defendants to carry out the act.

During the arraignment, the prosecution counsel, Ezekiel Gidauna Esq, submitted an application to substitute the initial FIR, dated May 19, 2025, with a new one dated July 4, 2025. This application was met with an objection from the defense counsels, G. C. Adikwu and M.I. El-Yakub, who argued against substituting a document they had not yet received. However, the Chief Magistrate overruled the defense's objection, ordering that the FIR be substituted, then read and interpreted to the defendants in a language they could comprehend.

Upon the FIR being read and interpreted to them in Hausa, the defendants confirmed their understanding of the allegations. Notably, Dr. Emmanuel Musa initially stated he did not understand until the allegations were read to him a second time. It was observed that the Chief Magistrate did not, however, ask the defendants to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty as alleged by the prosecution. G. C. Adikwu, addressing the court on this omission, contended that legal provisions mandate that defendants, after acknowledging their understanding of allegations, must also be asked whether they are guilty or not.

Earlier in the proceedings, G. C. Adikwu had requested that Dr. Musa be allowed to remain seated during his arraignment due to dizziness. Adikwu explained that his client had been transported from Abuja to Yola while on a drip. The court granted this request, allowing Dr. Musa to be arraigned while seated.