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Hanifa Abubakar: Court orders trial-within-a-trial

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Nasiru Yusuf

The Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Usman Na’abba has fixed February 9 to deliver ruling on trial within a trial in respect of Abdulmalik Tanko and Fatima Jibrin’s confessional statements sought to be tendered as evidence by the prosecution’s counsel to prove their case against the three defendants who allegedly conspired, kidnapped and killed a five year old Hanifa Abubakar.

KANO FOCUS reports that when the case resumed on Thursday for the continuation of hearing, Prosecution counsel Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Kano

Musa Abdullahi Lawan sought to tender two confessional statements of the defendants.

However, the defence counsel Mukhtar Labaran Usman objected to the admissibility of the statements, arguing that the statements of Abdulmalik and Fatima were taken under threat and compulsion urging the court to dismiss it relying on section 29 sub section 2 and 3  of Evidence Act 2011.

Earlier in his submission during trial within trial, the investigative officer attached to Anti kidnapping squad of Kano Command Ridwan Ibrahim told the court that he took the defendants’ statements without any threat or compulsion.

He denied using electrical device on witness while taking his statement.

He told the court that he took the statement in the presence of his colleagues noting that there was light, fan and it was an open detective office where statement of the party involved in case were taken.

Also in his testimony, another policeman Muhammad Yanfa told the court that Ibrahim recorded the defendant’s statement in his presence.

“It was in my presence, it was a busy office where my colleagues record statement of parties who came in respect of their case.

“A lighting and brightening detective office. I was there from beginning to the end. The defendants were not tortured, intimidated or harassed. They signed the statement without any compulsion” the witness said.

Other witnesses who testified on Thursday include Sani Hussaini Kyarma, Jamila Muhammmad Sani, a wife to Abdulmalik Tanko and Jummai Danladi making the total of 8 prosecution witnesses so far.

Justice Naabba adjourned the case to February 9 and 10 for ruling on trial within trial and continuation of hearing.

The last sitting

On Wednesday the Court had admitted 10 exhibits tendered by prosecution counsel Mr Lawan against suspected killers.

The prosecution counsel who is also the state Attorney General tendered the exhibits through third witness police inspector Ubale Usman attached to Anti Kidnapping squad Kano command.

The exhibits include coroner’s form duly signed by a medical doctor (exhibit 1), four mobile phones (exhibit 2) comprised of three used by the prime suspect to contact Hanifa’s parents and one belonging to Hanifa’s mother, photocopy of Hanifa’s picture obtained from the suspects in the course of investigation (exhibit 3) and N30,300.

Mr Tanko and one of his alleged accomplices, Isyaku, have pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy but denied four other charges in the murder trial.

However, the other suspect, Fatima Jibrin, denied all the charges at the previous sitting

The suspects were charged with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, concealing/keeping in confinement a kidnapped person and culpable homicide, offences contrary to Sections 97, 274, 277 and 221 of the Penal Code.

Hanifa was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by Mr Tanko, who was her teacher, and two other suspects.

The Attorney General had earlier informed the court that sometime in Nov. 2021, the defendants conspired and kidnapped the five-year-old Hanifa while she was returning from Islamiyya school.

He alleged that Tanko, the proprietor of Nobel Kids Comprehensive College, Kano, had on Dec. 4, 2021, kidnapped and held Hanifa hostage in his house situated at Tudun Murtala for days and killed her with poison.

“In the process, the second defendant Isyaku buried her in a shallow grave in the premises of Northwest Preparatory School situated at Kwanar Yan Ghana, Tudun Murtala, Kano.

“On Dec. 27, 2021, the third defendant Musa wrote a letter to the victim’s family, on behalf of Tanko, demanding the sum of six million Naira as ransom.”

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Kano State Head of Service Denies Claims of Political Rift Behind Senior Civil Service Postings

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The Office of the Head of Civil Service in Kano State has strongly rejected a recent news report that linked the appointment of new Permanent Secretaries and Directors to an alleged rift within the ruling party.

In a statement issued on November 6, 2024, Abdullahi Musa, the Head of Civil Service, categorically dismissed the claims as “false, mischievous, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.”

Musa clarified that the recent postings were part of routine administrative procedures aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the state’s civil service. He explained that the moves were necessary to fill vacancies created by the imminent retirements of senior civil servants, particularly the Permanent Secretaries and Directors affected by the annulled tenure elongation plan, set to take effect in December.

“These postings were not influenced by political considerations or interpersonal conflicts,” Musa emphasized. “They are standard administrative actions designed to improve the functionality of our Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).”

The Head of Service also condemned the media report for suggesting that the reshuffling of senior officials was a reaction to a political divide, asserting that such claims were unfounded and aimed at creating unnecessary discord within the state’s leadership.

Musa reaffirmed that the civil service in Kano State remains apolitical and committed to functioning independently of political dynamics. He urged the public and media outlets to rely on verified information and avoid spreading rumors that could undermine the state’s stability.

“The Office of the Head of Civil Service remains fully committed to ensuring the smooth operation of the civil service and fostering a harmonious relationship among all branches of government,” he concluded.

Musa also called on media outlets and citizens to focus on factual reporting and refrain from amplifying false narratives that could erode public trust in the administration’s decisions.

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Cour order mental evaluation for Kano woman after strange theft case testimony

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By Mukhtar Yahya Usman

Kano Woman Facing Theft Charges Claims She’s “Above Theft,” Demands 200,000 Naira, and Alleges Stolen Belongings Taken from Her Stomach.

On Tuesday a theft case took an unusual turn at the Sharia Court in Kano’s Kurna area after the defendant, Hajara Ibrahim, made a series of perplexing statements, leading the court to order a mental health evaluation.

Hajara, who was brought before the court on theft charges, declared that she was “above committing theft” and insisted that she would only respond to the accusations if her case were taken before the Emir of Kano.

As the proceedings continued, her behavior grew stranger.

When asked if she had any mental health issues, she ignored the question.

In another exchange, when the judge asked her to identify the ceiling fans in the courtroom, she retorted that no one had the authority to make her look at a fan.

Hajara further shocked the court by demanding 200,000 Naira for “medical expenses” and claimed that some of her belongings had been mysteriously taken from her stomach.

The case took a new twist when a man identified himself as Hajara’s brother and told the court that she had a history of mental health issues.

Based on this information and her erratic behavior, presiding judge Shamsudden Ado Abdullahi instructed the court clerk to send a letter to Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital, requesting a mental health assessment for Hajara.

The judge then adjourned the case to December 9, 2024, awaiting the results of her evaluation.

 

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Headlines

Cour order mental evaluation for Kano woman after strange theft case testimony

Published

on

By Mukhtar Yahya Usman

Kano Woman Facing Theft Charges Claims She’s “Above Theft,” Demands 200,000 Naira, and Alleges Stolen Belongings Taken from Her Stomach.

On Tuesday a theft case took an unusual turn at the Sharia Court in Kano’s Kurna area after the defendant, Hajara Ibrahim, made a series of perplexing statements, leading the court to order a mental health evaluation.

Hajara, who was brought before the court on theft charges, declared that she was “above committing theft” and insisted that she would only respond to the accusations if her case were taken before the Emir of Kano.

As the proceedings continued, her behavior grew stranger.

When asked if she had any mental health issues, she ignored the question.

In another exchange, when the judge asked her to identify the ceiling fans in the courtroom, she retorted that no one had the authority to make her look at a fan.

Hajara further shocked the court by demanding 200,000 Naira for “medical expenses” and claimed that some of her belongings had been mysteriously taken from her stomach.

The case took a new twist when a man identified himself as Hajara’s brother and told the court that she had a history of mental health issues.

Based on this information and her erratic behavior, presiding judge Shamsudden Ado Abdullahi instructed the court clerk to send a letter to Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital, requesting a mental health assessment for Hajara.

The judge then adjourned the case to December 9, 2024, awaiting the results of her evaluation.

 

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