A Gombe Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered two African Democratic Congress (ADC) members to be held in police custody following a disturbance at Gombe International Airport. The incident took place during the homecoming of the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Bala Bello Tinka.
The accused individuals, Muhammad-Sunusi Abdullahi, widely known as Ataka, and Ahmed-Daudu Dinawa, also known as Jadda, appeared before Chief Magistrate Aliyu Abubakar on Tuesday. They face seven charges, including criminal trespass, inciting disturbances, and property damage, to which they entered not-guilty pleas.
Police prosecutor Umehi Thomas stated that the event occurred on July 15, 2026. He alleged that the suspects and several others still at large forced their way into a restricted VIP section by damaging the security gate lock. Thomas claimed the group became aggressive when confronted by airport management and security teams, prompting him to request their continued detention to allow for ongoing investigations.
In response, defense attorney Ayuba Rabiu requested bail for his clients, citing relevant provisions under the Gombe State Administration of Criminal Justice Law and the Nigerian Constitution. He noted that the suspects had already been detained since July 16, 2026. Chief Magistrate Abubakar scheduled the ruling on the bail application for July 23, 2026, and adjourned the main case until August 5, 2026.
