Headlines
Ummita death: Counsel to Chinese challenges authenticity of autopsy of the deceased
Mukhtar Yahaya Usman
A mild drama ensued during the resumed hearings of witnesses in the ongoing alleged murder of Ummukulsum Sani Buhari (Ummita) by her Chinese lover, Frank Geng Quarong, as the defence counsel in the case accused the state counsel of tendering a fake autopsy of the deceased before the court.
KANO FOCUS reports that the defence counsel, Barrister Muhammad Dan-Azumi on Wednesday said the evidence tendered as verbal autopsy certifying the death of the victim by the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, which the court admitted as Exhibit “D” was questionable in its entirety.
Dan-Azumi argued that the document is not the same as the original copy of the report obtained and tendered in black and white and on the letter headed paper of the hospital.
He said: “This report is coming 90 days after the said incident happened which I personally tried to obtain earlier but there was no response from the hospital to date.”
Earlier, the court began proceeding with the hearing of the last prosecution witness, Police Constable Aminu Halilu attached to Dorayi Babba Police Division, who narrated how the incident happened, giving an account of the police’s involvement in the case to hospital certification and the subsequent release of the corpse to the victim’s relatives for burial.
Halilu further explained how after handing over the corpse for burial, he came back to the suspect at the station and took note of his side of the story.
“I came back to the police station where I met Mr Frank. I asked him to invite his relatives but he said they are in China, but he would call a friend who worked at BBY Textile Company. He called him on the phone but he did not show up for a few hours.
Later on, he permitted me to take his statement in the presence of his relatives and started narrating what happened between them from the day they met in 2019 up to 16th September 2022.
“Afterwards, I read to him his statement, and he understood and signed. Thereafter, I took him to my superior, Saifullahi Bello where he read the statement to him and he accepted what he read to him and acknowledged that what was recorded is true.”
He affirmed that the statement was also read to two witnesses, Fatima Zubairu and Mustapha.
He thereafter, proceeded to visit the crime scene at Janbulo Quarters in the Kano metropolis, before he later compiled the case diary and the exhibit given to him (a sharp knife), after which the case was transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.
The prosecution counsel led by Kano State Director of Public Prosecution, Aisha Muhammad had earlier tendered as evidence the statement of the suspect which the court admitted as Exhibit C which the police constable recognised but the defendant raised an objection claiming he made the statement under duress after he was threatened, handcuffed and pushed into a cell.
The defence counsel had, therefore, called for trial within trial but the judge argued that it was abolished in the ACJL relying on Section 38 (7) of the ACJL thereby admitting the statement as Exhibit C.
The judge, Justice Sunusi Ado Ma’aji, then closed the hearing of the prosecution counsel and adjourned the case to December 23, 2023.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Imam Nura Garba Mato has urged Muslims to remain conscious of their actions, saying that divine reward and punishment often correspond to the nature of people’s deeds.
KANO FOCUS reports that the imam made the call while delivering a Friday sermon at Jami’u Ansar wal Muhajirun Jumaa Mosque, Cotton Ginnery Layout, Zawaciki, Kano State.
The sermon, titled “Al-Jazā’u Min Jinsil-‘Amal” (Recompense Is According to the Nature of Deeds), focused on the Islamic teaching that people’s actions have consequences and that good deeds attract divine reward.
Imam Mato said Allah had established enduring principles in human life that do not change, urging Muslims to understand these principles and allow them to guide their conduct.
He explained that one of these principles was that recompense corresponds to the nature of one’s actions, stressing the importance of living righteously and fulfilling one’s responsibilities to Allah and fellow human beings.
The imam called on Muslims to observe *taqwa* (consciousness of Allah), remain steadfast in their faith and follow the teachings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He also highlighted the importance of helping people in difficulty, easing the burdens of others and showing compassion to fellow Muslims.
Quoting a prophetic tradition, the imam emphasised that whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship in this world will receive relief from Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
He further explained that whoever conceals the faults of a fellow Muslim would receive Allah’s concealment of their faults on the Day of Resurrection, while those who make things easier for people in difficulty would receive Allah’s assistance in this world and the Hereafter.
The sermon also underscored the importance of supporting others, noting that a Muslim’s relationship with Allah should be reflected in their treatment of fellow human beings.
Imam Mato urged Muslims to reflect on their deeds and recognise that their conduct carries consequences, encouraging them to embrace good actions, assist those in need and uphold the teachings of Islam in their daily lives.
He stressed that Muslims should make righteousness, compassion and service to others central to their lives in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has directed all civil servants who have attained their statutory retirement age or completed the required length of service to immediately vacate their offices and hand over government property in their possession.
KANO FOCUS reports that the directive was contained in Circular issued on Tuesday by the Establishment Directorate, Office of the Head of Civil Service, Kano State.
The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Abba A. Danguguwa, on behalf of the Head of Civil Service, was titled: “Unauthorized Continuance in Service After Statutory Retirement by Civil Servants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government – Call for Immediate Handing Over of Official Documents, Properties.”
The government said it had observed that some civil servants continued to remain in office and operate in official capacities after reaching their statutory retirement period.
According to the circular, such conduct was a “negation to the reputation of the Civil Service of Kano State,” noting that the service had a long-standing tradition of ensuring seamless transition by retiring civil servants.
It described the continued stay in service after retirement as a direct infraction and aberration of relevant provisions of the State Civil Service Rules and other applicable service regulations.
The government stressed that it was legally and administratively untenable for any officer to remain in service or perform official functions beyond the statutory limit.
Consequently, all civil servants who had retired either by age or length of service were directed to immediately exit and hand over all official documents, government property and duties to their immediate subordinates in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.
The circular also directed all Accounting Officers, including Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives, as well as Directors of Administration and Personnel Management, to ensure strict and immediate compliance with the directive.
It warned that any officer found aiding, abetting or condoning the continued stay of a retired officer in service would face appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.
The directive takes immediate effect, the circular stated.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf says his administration has settled approximately N32 billion out of the N48 billion inherited backlog of gratuities and related liabilities owed to retirees in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that Gov Yusuf disclosed this on Thursday while addressing residents at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium in Kano.
The governor said the government had also sustained the regular payment of monthly pensions while increasing the minimum monthly pension from N5,000 to N20,000.
He said the welfare of workers and pensioners remained a priority of his administration, citing timely payment of salaries, improved remuneration and measures aimed at strengthening the public service.
According to him, the state has maintained the practice of paying workers’ salaries on or before the 25th of every month while implementing the N71,000 minimum wage for civil servants.
Gov Yusuf also said his administration was sponsoring public servants for professional training, including programmes at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), to strengthen their administrative and leadership capacity.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a professional and motivated workforce, while ensuring that the contributions and sacrifices of serving workers and retirees were recognised and treated with dignity.
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