IGP Solomon Arase

Five suspects arrested in connection with the murder of a female trader, Mrs Bridget Agbahime, at Kofar Wambai Market, Kano, over alleged blasphemy were arraigned in court by the police in Kano city on Friday.

The five suspects, including seven others now at large, are facing a four-count charge of: inciting public disturbance, joint act, culpable homicide and mischief.

The suspects docked are: Dauda Ahmed, Abdulmumin Mustafa, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who covered the session reported that the ages of the accused persons were not disclosed.

Reading the charges before the accused persons, the police prosecutor, Usman Jibrin, said they committed the offences on June 2, at about 4:30p.m.

He said that one of the suspects, Dauda Ahmed, while having a misunderstanding with Mrs Bridget Agbahime, held her hand and slapped her after accusing her of blasphemy.

Jibrin said in the process, Ahmed allegedly connived with others and beat the deceased with sticks and other dangerous weapons and inflicted injuries on her body that led to her death.

He said the accused were also alleged to have damaged a Toyota car valued at N1.4 million belonging to one Pastor Agbahime during the incident.

He said the offences were contrary to Sections 114, 80, 221 and 327 of the Penal Code.

The prosecutor prayed the court to send the accused persons to prison custody to enable the police complete its investigations into the case.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the four-count charges.

The defence counsel to first accused, Mr K. A. Sadiq, said he had no objections to the prayer of the prosecuting counsel.

Chief Magistrate Muhammad Jibrin, therefore, ordered the five accused persons to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to June 28, for mention. (NAN)