A Kano State High Court sitting in Bompai has arraigned four men in connection with the alleged killing of a housewife, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi quarters of Kano earlier this year.
The defendants Umar Auwalu, Yakubu Dayyabu, Isyaka Yakubu, and Umar Ali—are facing multiple charges, including homicide, rape, armed robbery, and arson.
At the court session, three of the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges. The first defendant, Umar Auwalu, reportedly admitted to most of the allegations; however, the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf in accordance with legal provisions governing capital offences.
The lead prosecutor, Saleh Muhammad, told the court that the state is fully prepared to prosecute the case and will present witnesses and evidence to support the charges.
Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu Muhammad Tahir, disclosed that the charges are contained in three separate cases K-54, K-55, and K-56 covering incidents in Tudun Yola, Dorayi Chiranchi, as well as a rape-related charge.
He noted that while pleas were successfully taken in two of the cases, the third could not proceed due to the absence of legal representation for some of the defendants.
“You cannot proceed without counsel in a homicide matter because it is a case of life and death,”
He added that the prosecution has filed several charges across the cases and is ready to call witnesses at the next hearing.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to April 22, 27, and 28 for the continuation of hearing and presentation of witnesses.