Kano Court Sentences Mosque Arsonist To Death

A Kano State Upper Shari’a Court has sentenced a 38-year-old Shafi’u Abubakar to death by hanging for setting a mosque on fire at Gadan Village in Gezawa local government area of the state on 15th May, 2024, which claimed the lives of 23 worshippers.

The presiding judge, Malam Halhalatu Khuza’i-Zakariyya, in his ruling on Monday, said Abubakar was found guilty of the offence and thereby convicted.

The convict was standing trial on four-count charge bordering on mischief by fire, causing grievous hurt, attempted murder and culpable homicide.

Delivering his judgement, the judge said the convict would also be subjected to 150 strokes of cane, while his tricycle shall be sold by the state government, using the money to fix the burnt mosque.

According to the judge, the convict would die by hanging for murder and be given 100 strokes of cane for attempted murder, a fine of N1,500 for causing grievous hurt, and 50 strokes of cane for mischief by fire.

The court also held that out of the seven witnesses presented by the prosecution, only the testimonies of two witnesses proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, saying the burn the defendant had on his hand also proven that he committed the act.

Malam Khuza’i-Zakariyya held that the offences contravened Sections 142, 148, 168, and 370 of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law, 2000.

He noted further that the defendant has only 30 days to appeal the judgement.

The defendant however pleaded guilty to all the charges.

In her response, the defence counsel, Hasiya Mohammad, pleaded for leniency and requested the defendant to be taken to the Janguza Maximum Custodial Centre.