There was a mild drama at a Kano State High Court on Thursday during the arraignment of Hafsat Suraj, 24, accused of killing her housemaid as she was silent when asked if she understood the charges preferred against her.
Daily Trust reports that Hafsat and the three other defendants were on December 27, 2023 arraigned before a Kano Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged murder and concealment of fact.
Hafsat was alleged to have stabbed Nafiu Hafizu, 38, on his chest and other parts of his body, which led to his death on December 21, 2023 at Unguwa Uku Quarters Kano. The offence contravened Section 221 of Penal Code.
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The presiding judge, Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, repeated the question three times but Hafsat remained silent.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Aisha Mahmoud, urged the court to refer Hafsat to a government Psychiatric hospital for mental evaluation pursuant to Section 286 of ACJL 2019.
“We want to know whether the defendant is fit to stand trial or not,” he said.
Justice Yusuf ordered that the first defendant be taken to a government psychiatric hospital attached to the correctional centre for assessment.
Meanwhile, Hafsat’s husband, Dayyabu Abdullahi, Adamu Muhammad and Nasidi Muhammad, were arraigned before the state high court for providing false information with an intention to prevent Hafsat from legal punishment for the alleged murder of Nafiu.
Mahmoud alleged that the three defendants committed the offence on December 21, 2023, at Unguwa Uku Quarters Kano.
The defendants, however, denied committing the offence.
According to the prosecution counsel, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 167 of the Penal Code.
The Defence Counsel, Haruna Magashi and Rabiu Abdullahi, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, pursuant to Section 35 and 36(5) of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended and section 168 and 172 of ACJL 2019 Kano State.
They urged the court to order the prosecution counsel to furnish them with all particulars concerning the case.
The prosecution opposed the bail application made in respect of the three other defendants.
