A 38-year-old man, Shafi’u Abubakar, has been sentenced to death by hanging and 150 strokes of the cane by an Upper Shari’a Court in Kano for his role in a deadly mosque fire that claimed the lives of 23 people.
Abubakar, a resident of Gezawa Local Government Area, faced charges of culpable homicide, attempted murder, causing grievous harm, and mischief by fire following the tragic incident that occurred on May 15, 2024, in Gadan Larabar Abasawa Village.
Delivering the judgment on Monday, Judge Halhalatu Khuza’i-Zakariyya ruled that of the seven witnesses presented by the prosecution, only the testimonies of two proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. The judge described the other witnesses’ accounts as inconclusive and based on hearsay.
However, the court accepted the testimony of Pw4, Ibrahim Salisu, who stated he saw the defendant fleeing the scene, which was admitted as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, Pw7, a police officer, presented the defendant’s confessional statement, which the court found credible.
The judge further noted that burn injuries observed on the defendant’s hand supported the prosecution’s case. As a result, Abubakar was found guilty on all counts.
He was sentenced to:
- Death by hanging for murder
- 100 strokes of cane for attempted murder
- ₦1,500 fine for causing grievous hurt
- 50 strokes of cane for mischief by fire
The court also ordered the confiscation and sale of the defendant’s tricycle to fund the reconstruction of the burnt mosque.
Abubakar, who pleaded guilty to all charges, was represented by Defence Counsel Hasiya Muhammad-Imam, who appealed for leniency and requested his transfer to Janguza Maximum Security Custodial Centre.
The Prosecution Counsel and Director of Public Prosecution, Salisu Tahir, told the court that Abubakar deliberately poured petrol and set the mosque on fire between 5:05 a.m. and 5:20 a.m., while worshippers were in prayer. Two additional victims, Shu’aibu Ibrahim and Ibrahim Sani, narrowly escaped the attack but sustained injuries.
Tahir presented seven witnesses, along with the defendant’s confession in both English and Hausa, and photographs of the victims as evidence. He said the offenses violated Sections 142, 148, 168, and 370 of the Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law, 2000.
The court granted Abubakar 30 days to appeal the judgment.
