Nigeria, July 13 -- A magistrate handling the criminal case arising from the alleged destruction of a journalist's farmland by cattle has withdrawn from the matter following controversy over his handling of the proceedings.

The case, which is between the Commissioner of Police and Abdullahi Yusuf, stems from allegations that cattle repeatedly invaded farms owned by investigative journalist and farmer Ibanga Isine, in what observers consider an important test of Akwa Ibom State's anti-open-grazing law.

Counsel to the nominal complainant, Sammy Etuk, told PREMIUM TIMES shortly after Monday's proceedings that the presiding magistrate, Godwin Edemekong of Magistrate Court 7, recused himself from the case.

According to Mr Etuk, the magistra...