Upper Shari’a Court In Kano has fixed July 4 for the hearing of the trial of Shafi’u Abubakar, 38, who allegedly set a mosque on fire.
Gatekeepers News reports that the number of deceased victims from the incident has risen from 14 to 21.
The suspect who lives at Gadan Village in Gezawa LGA of Kano, is standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on mischief by fire, causing grievous harm, and culpable homicide.
The Prosecution Counsel, Director of Public Prosecution, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu Tahir, read the copy of the case diary the ministry had received from the police to the court.
Tahir said “The death toll of the victims has risen from 14 to 19. We seek another date to enable us file a new charge to add the exact number of victims and present our witnesses before the court.”
The offenses are said to have contravened the provision of sections 336, 247, and 221 of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law.
Shafi’u Abubakar was alleged to have used petrol to set a mosque on fire during Subhi (Dawn) prayer at about 5:15 a.m., on May 15 at Gadan Village in Gezawa LGA of the state.
He poured the petrol on the carpet where a man, Sani Suleiman, and 24 others were praying, and closed the door.
Several people sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano for treatment. Sani Suleiman and 13 others, however, died while receiving treatment.
The defendant pleaded guilty to all three count charges against him.
Barr. Auwal Abubakar from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria announced his appearance for the defendant following the May 20 court order that the Council should provide a lawyer for the defendant.
The presiding judge, Malam Halhalatul Huza’i Zakariyya, ordered the prosecution counsel to brief the defense counsel on all the particulars of the case.
The judge ordered the remand of the defendant in a correctional centre and adjourned the matter to July 4, for a hearing.
