Kano man sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder

A Kano High Court has sentenced a 20-year-old man, Bashir Yahaya, to 20 years in prison for attempted murder.

Yahaya, resident of Kabuga Quarters in Kano, was convicted for gross indecency, causing grievous hurt and an attempt to commit culpable homicide.

Justice Suleiman Baba-Namallam held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore sentenced Yahaya to three years with an option of a fine of N20,000 for gross indecency; seven years with a fine option of N30,000 for causing grievous hurt; and 10 years for attempted murder which will run concurrently.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Zahraddeen Kofar-Mata, told the court that the suspect committed the offences on May 12, 2019, at Tal’udu Quarters in Kano after he was sent by his employer to give his staff, Aisha Kabir, food for Iftar at Orbit Dental Clinic, Tal’udu Quarters, Kano.

He said, “After giving her the food, the victim begged the accused to switch on the generator set because there was no electricity, but instead the accused grabbed the victim’s breast, threatened her and held her hostage using a sharp knife. He inflicted a deep cut on her throat and collected her phone.”

The prosecutor further said that the victim was later found by one Zayyanu Abdulhamid in the pool of her blood and was rushed to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano.

The defence counsel, I. I. Abubakar, told the court that the defendant was a first-time offender and prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.