Blasphemy Killing: Kano Magistrate’s Court Rejects Bail Application for Accused Persons

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

A Kano Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Kano on Tuesday turned down the bail request for five suspects accused of killing a 74-year-old trader, Mrs Bridget Agbahime, on June 2, 2016 at the popular Kofar Wambai Market in the commercial city of Kano.

When the case came up for hearing yesterday, counsel for the defendants, Gambo Abdulsalam, argued that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the case on the grounds of determining the murder case against the five accused persons, namely, Ahmed Dauda; Abdullahi Mustapha; Zubairu Abubakar; Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdulllahi.

After citing numerous authorities to buttress his argument, Gambo pleaded with the court to either remand or to release the five accused persons on bail, depending on the jurisdiction of the court.

He said: “This is simply an allegation and it is not sufficient to hold onto somebody, It amounts to nothing but just an information.”
Furthermore, he argued that in making judicial decision, sentiments has no place in court, stressing that it is a matter of hard facts and law.

In his response, the police counsel to the plaintiff, Ekwe Sunday, vehemently opposed the bail application of the defence counsel, arguing that the case is an established capital offence, which investigation had already been completed, hence the arraignment of the accused persons in court.

Also, Sunday argued that the accused persons should not be the granted bail, arguing that the offence was not only capital in nature but a grievous and as such, the court should not grant the accused persons bail.

After hearing the arguments of both counsel, Chief Magistrate Mohammed Jibrin, therefore adjourned hearing to July 20, 2016, while the accused persons were remanded in prison custody.
The five accused persons were arraigned for allegedly killing a female trader at Kofar Wambai market on June 2, 2016.