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•Court remands suspect, adjourns till May 31
From Desmond Mgboh Kano and Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has condoled with the government and people of Kano State over the fire incident that led to the death of some worshippers at a mosque, at Larabar Abasawa in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.
His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement, said the president condemned the act of arson, which led to the tragic development and directed law enforcement agencies to ensure diligent investigation and prosecution of suspects.
President Tinubu commiserated with the bereaved families, all those affected, and prays for quick recovery for the wounded.
Meanwhile, the Kano Upper Shari’a Court, yesterday, ordered the remand of Shafi’u Abubakar, the suspect allegedly behind the bombing of worshippers at a mosque in Kano, last week.
Abubakar was charged before the court on a three count charge of mischief by fire, causing grievous hurt and culpable homicide, contrary to Section 336, 247 and 221 of Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law.
The judge, Halhalatu Zakariyya, following his arraignment, ordered the remand of the defendant in prison, while directing the court registry to write a letter to the Legal Aid Council, to provide counsel for him. The judge, subsequently, adjourned the case to May 31, 2024 for hearing.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel and Attorney General of Kano State, Haruna Isa Dederi, had informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 15, at Gadan Village Gezawa Local Government. Dederi said on the same date, at about 5:15am, the defendant used petrol and set a mosque at Gadan Village on fire during subhi prayer.
“The defendant poured the petrol on the carpet, where Sani Suleiman and 24 others were praying, and closed the door. In the process, several people sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, for treatment, while Suleiman and 13 others died while receiving treatment,” he said.
He urged the court to allow the defendant to get a lawyer to give him his constitutional right.
