A Kano Upper Shari’a Court has announced the date for the commencement of the trial concerning the Kano mosque fire incident.
The trial is set to begin on July 4, 2024. The case involves Shafi’u Abubakar, a 38-year-old man accused of setting fire to a mosque in Gadan village, located in the Gezawa local area of Kano State.
Abubakar is facing a three-count charge that includes mischief by fire, causing grievous hurt, and culpable homicide.
These charges are based on violations of Sections 336, 247, and 221 of the Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law.
On Friday, Salisu Tahir, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) at the Kano State Ministry of Justice, who is also the prosecution counsel, reported that the police had provided them with the case diary. He also noted that the death toll from the fire had increased from 14 to 19.
Tahir requested additional time to file new charges, determine the exact number of victims, and prepare their witnesses for the court.
In response to the court’s request on May 20 for the Legal Aid Council to provide a lawyer for the defendant, Barrister Auwal Abubakar announced that he would be representing Abubakar as the defense counsel.
The presiding judge, Malam Halhalatu Zakariyya, instructed the prosecution counsel to share all necessary information regarding the case with the defense counsel.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Center until the next hearing, which is scheduled for July 4.
