The Kano Upper Shariah Court sitting in Rijiyar Zaki has scheduled August 1st to deliver judgement on the second and third charges against Shafiu Abubakar, the alleged mastermind of the Kano mosque arson.
Shafi’u Abubakar, aged 38 and residing in Gadan Village, Gezawa Local Government Area, is facing trial for allegedly setting fire to a mosque, resulting in the death of 23 people.
The prosecution counsel, Barrister Salisu Tahir from the Kano State Ministry of Justice, requested the court’s permission to file additional charges detailing the names of victims who perished in the incident.
Among the deceased identified are Kabiru Yunusa, 75; Bello Yunusa, 63; Sadi Abdullahi, 26; Abdullahi Garba, 65; Yusuf Halliru, 30; Jibrin Sulaiman, 82; Auwalu Abdullahi, 27; Abdullahi Tasiu, 36; Auwalu Bello, 30, and several others.
The defendant allegedly used petrol to set fire to the mosque during the Subhi (dawn) prayer at approximately 5:15 a.m. on May 15th. “The defendant poured petrol on the prayer carpet where victims were praying and then closed the door,” the prosecution stated.
As a result of the arson, several people sustained injuries of varying degrees and were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano for treatment. In addition to the 23 fatalities, two individuals suffered serious injuries.
Shafiu Abubakar pleaded guilty to all four charges including culpable homicide, attempted murder, causing grievous hurt, and mischief by fire, under sections 143, 148, 167, and 370 of the Kano State Shariah Law 2000.
The defence counsel, Barr Asiya Muhammad Imam from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, urged the court to consider leniency, emphasising that the defendant had admitted to the offences.
Presiding Judge Malam Halhalatul Huza’i Zakariyya adjourned the case until August 1st and 2nd for judgement on the second and third charges, as well as further hearings on the first and fourth charges.
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