Court Declines Mental Test For Kano Housewife Charged With Murder Of Her Domestic Staff

Justice Faruk Lawan Adamu of the Kano State High Court has dismissed an application to conduct mental evaluation on Hafsat Surajo popularly known as Chuchu, who is facing trial over the murder of her ‘domestic staff’, Nafiu Hadiz.

The suspect allegedly stabbed Hafiz multiple times in the body with a knife, leading to his death.

Hafsat claimed she stabbed the deceased to death while he was preventing her from committing su*cide.

The incident happened at Unguwa Uku quarters in Taurani Local Government Area of the state in December 2023.

She was accused of seeking the assistance of her husband, Dayyabu Abdullahi, and one Malam Adamu Muhammad to clean Hafiz’s corpse and prepare it for burial.
 
When the charges were read to her and her husband, he pleaded not guilty. Chuchu, however, did not respond to the charges

Her counsel led by Barrister Sani Ammani applied for the court to refer his client to a Federal Psychiatric Hospital for mental evaluation pursuant to Section 278(3) of ACJL 2019 to ascertain if she is fit to stand trial. But the prosecution counsel Halima Yahuza Ahmad objected to it

In his ruling, Justice Lawan held that the court did not see any abnormality with the defendant that may warrant him to grant the application.

“I have noticed that whenever the 2nd defendant is talking to her, she responded, but when the court talks to her she keeps mute,” he held.

The judge ruled that the defendant should take her plea instead.

The prosecution counsel, Aishatu Salisu, asked the court to allow them to present their witnesses at the next adjourned date

Justice Lawan granted the application and adjourned the case to August 13, 14 and 15 for hearing.