The Kano State Government on Tuesday presented four witnesses against the 38-year-old alleged mosque arsonist, Shafi’u Abubakar, before an Upper Shari’a Court in Kano.
Abubakar is standing trial on culpable homicide and attempted murder, causing grievous hurt and mischief by fire. This offence is said to have contravened the provisions of sections 140, 148, 167 and 370 of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law 2000.
The Prosecution counsel and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu Tahir, presented the ward Head of Gadan Larabar Abasawa Village, the defendant’s elder brother and two others as witnesses.
The Ward Head, Abdulaziz Yahaya (PW1), told the court that he was informed of the mosque fire incident at about 5:45 a.m on May 15th after morning prayer, noting that, on reaching the scene he saw many people outside with burns who were rushed to the sir Muhammad Sunusi Hospital.
While noting that the defendant surrendered himself to the police at Gezawa division, he, however, said that he was in a mosque in front of his house when the incident happened.
In his testament, the defendant’s elder brother, Aminu Abubakar(PW2), informed the court that he was called at about 5:15 a.m. and informed of the problem.
He explained that their father died 15 years ago, and the inheritance was shared among them, but the defendant had a misunderstanding with his uncle and inflicted injuries on them.
He further narrated that after the defendant reported himself to the Hotoro Police Station, he was advised to be taken to the Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital Kano for treatment, where he was confirmed to be mentally stable.
Abubakar further noted that to empower the defendant, their mother sold her farm and gave the defendant N300,000 to buy a tricycle for business, as he requested.
Shu’aibu Ibrahim(PW3) testified that the defendant set the mosque on fire with petrol after the first raka’at prayer.
Also testifying, Ibrahim Salisu said that after the incident, he ran out of the mosque to seek help.
However, after the defence counsel, Hasiya Muhammad-Imam, cross-examined the Pw1-Pw4, the presiding judge, Malam Halhalatu Zakariyya, adjourned the matter to 24 September 2024 for the continuation of cross-examination.
The defendant had pleaded guilty to all the charges.
The defendant had, on May 15th, 2024, set a mosque on fire at Gadan Larabar Abasawa village of Gezawa local government area of Kano state, which resulted in the death of over 20 worshippers.
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