The Kano State Government concluded its case on Tuesday before an Upper Shari’a Court against Shafi’u Abubakar, 38, accused of setting fire to a mosque.
Abubakar, a resident of Gezawa Local Government Area, faces charges of culpable homicide, attempted murder, causing grievous harm, and arson.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the prosecution previously presented six witnesses. During the resumed session, Prosecution Counsel and Director of Public Prosecution for the Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu Tahir, presented ASP Abdullahi Sajo as the seventh witness.
Tahir submitted the defendant’s confessional statement in both English and Hausa, along with photographs of the victims as evidence.
ASP Abdullahi Sajo, 45, a 24-year veteran with the Kano State CID, testified:
“On May 15, at about 8 a.m., we received a signal from the Gezawa Police Division that the defendant went to a mosque in Gadan Larabar Abasawa Village, poured petrol, and set it on fire while the victims were praying around 5:05 to 5:20 a.m.
“Later that day, the defendant was brought to the State CID by officers from the Gezawa Division. Myself, along with Insp. Iguptil Meambu and Insp. Ruth Adeka, interrogated him in the presence of his brother, Aminu Abubakar.
“The defendant confessed that on May 14, around 6 p.m., he purchased N7,000 worth of fuel at a filling station on Hadeja Road, Kano, which he transferred into a jerrican and used to set the mosque on fire. He then reported himself to the Gezawa Police.”
ASP Sajo also reported seeing 25 people in critical condition at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, 23 of whom later succumbed to their injuries.
The prosecution argued that the alleged actions violate Sections 140, 148, 167, and 370 of the Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law, 2000.11During cross-examination, Defence Counsel Hasiya Muhammad-Imam questioned ASP Sajo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) noted that the police allege the defendant attempted to kill Shu’aibu Ibrahim and Ibrahim Sani by igniting fuel around them. The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges.
Presiding Judge Malam Halhalatu Zakariyya adjourned the case until Nov. 19 for further hearing. (NAN)
