A professor of law, Professor Mansur Ibrahim led a team of 34 lawyers, Monday, to appear in defence of the two suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Deborah Samuel, a 200 level female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.

The suspects were arraigned in court following their arrest last week over their roles in the gruesome murder of Deborah.

She was stoned to death and then burnt by her colleagues over alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad on a WhatsApp group.

The suspects – Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci were brought before a Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court for their alleged participation in the murder.

They pleaded not guilty when the charges against them were read in court.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Khalil Musa, told the court that an investigation was in progress on the matter.

He however appealed the court for another date to allow the police conclude their investigation.

The defence team for the suspects, after the presentations, did not oppose the move of the prosecuting lawyer, but applied for bail for his clients on liberal grounds.

The trial judge whose name was not disclosed for security reasons, reserved the ruling on the bail application, but ordered the accused to be remanded at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

Cameras were also barred from covering the proceeding.

The court thereafter adjourned ruling on the application to a later date, which would be communicated to the lawyers.