A Kano Upper Shari’a Court has announced a date for the commencement of trial on the Kano mosque fire.
In a statement on Friday, the court fixed July 4, 2024 for hearing on the ongoing trial of Shafi’u Abubakar, a man who allegedly set a mosque on fire at Gadan village in Gezawa local area of the state.
The 38-year-old- defendant is standing trial on three-count charge bordering on mischief by fire, causing grievous hurt and culpable homicide.
The offences are said to have contravened Sections 336, 247 and 221 of the Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law.
The director of public prosecution (DPP) at the Kano State Ministry of Justice who is also the Prosecution Counsel, Salisu Tahir, said that they had received a copy of the case diary from the police, stating that the death toll from the fire had risen from 14 to 19.
He sought another date to enable them file a new charge and get the exact number of victims and present their witnesses before the court.
Meanwhile, Barr. Auwal Abubakar from the Legal Aid Council announced his appearance as the defence counsel following the court’s request on May 20 to the council to provide a lawyer for the defendant.
The presiding judge, Malam Halhalatu Zakariyya, ordered the prosecution counsel to give the defence counsel all the needed information concerning the case.
He further ordered the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Center and adjourned the matter until July 4 for hearing.
