Court adjourns hearing on Kano mosque arson

Kano Upper Shari’a Court on Friday fixed July 4 for hearing in the ongoing trial of Shafi’u Abubakar, 38, who allegedly set a mosque on fire, killing 14 people in the process.

The number of deceased victims from the incident has risen to 21.

The defendant, who lives at Gadan Village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano, is standing trial on three-count charge bordering on mischief by fire, causing grievous harm and culpable homicide.

The Prosecution Counsel, Director Public Prosection (DPP), Kano State Ministry of Justice, Mr Salisu Tahir, told the court that the ministry had received a copy of the case diary from the police.

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“The death toll of the victims has risen from 14 to 19. We seek another date to enable us file a new charge to add the exact number of victims and present our witnesses before the court,” Tahir said.

The offences are said to have contravened the provision of sections 336, 247 and 221 of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law.

The defendant was alleged to have used petrol and set a mosque on fire during Subhi (Dawn) prayer at about 5:15 a.m, on May 15 at Gadan Village in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.

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 injury and were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano for treatment. Suleiman and 13 others died while receiving treatment.

The defendant pleaded guilty to all the three counts.

Daily Trust reports that Barr. Auwal Abubakar from Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, announced his appearance for defendant following the May 20 court order that the Council should provide a lawyer for the defendant.

The presiding judge, Malam Halhalatul Huza’i Zakariyya, ordered the prosecution counsel to furnish the defence counsel with all the particulars of the case.

He ordered the remand of the defendant in a correctional centre and adjourned the matter until July 4, for hearing.