Court Frees All Suspects in Kano Blasphemy Killing

Posted by George on Thu 03rd Nov, 2016 - tori.ng

The case of the late Mrs Bridget Agbahime who was killed for alleged blasphemy against the Islamic religion in Kano, northern part of Nigeria has been closed.

The five suspects arraigned on Friday, June 10, 2016, in Kano

A Kano Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, discharged all the five suspects, who allegedly killed a trader, Bridget Agbahime in Kano on June 2 over allegations of blasphemy.

Mrs. Agbahime, 74, an Imo indigene, was murdered in Kofar Wambai Market in Kano over alleged blasphemy with President Muhammadu Buhari condemning the act with a promise of justice in an official statement.

The suspects, Dauda Ahmed, Abdulmumeen Mustafa, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi were slammed with a four-count charge of allegedly inciting disturbance, culpable homicide, joint act and mischief.

The Chief Magistrate, Muhammad Jibril, discharged the five suspects and terminated the case as advised by the Attorney-General of Kano State.

Earlier, the Principal State Counsel, Rabiu Yusuf, representing the attorney-general of Kano State, told the court that they received the case diary from the police on June 8.

“Having gone through the case diary, the attorney- general of Kano State evaluated the facts in accordance with Sections 130 and150 of the Criminal Procedure Code, presented the legal advice,” Mr. Yusuf said.

“The legal advice presented to the court, dated June 24, states that there is no case to answer as the suspects are all innocent and orders the court to discharge all the suspects.”

The counsel to the suspects, Abdulsalam Gambo, commended the attorney-general for the judgment in the case.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the families of the released suspects have been in the mood of celebration over the freedom of their members.