Kano Court Denies Bail To Robbery Suspects

A Kano State High Court has refused bail applications filed by three defendants standing trial for alleged armed robbery, kidnapping and attempted culpable homicide in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.

The defendants — Umar Abdullahi, Shafi’u Adamu, Jamilu Akilu and Muammiru Warawa — are facing a four-count charge linked to an incident that allegedly occurred in Saunar Kawaji, Gezawa LGA, in June 2021.

The prosecution, led by Barrister Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, alleged that the defendants conspired to commit armed robbery, kidnapping and attempted culpable homicide.

According to the charge, the suspects allegedly abducted a woman identified as Aisha, held her for six days in an uncompleted building and released her after collecting a N5 million ransom from her family.

They were also accused of robbing one Alhaji Bello Abdullahi and members of his family of mobile phones while armed with AK-47 rifles.

In addition, the prosecution alleged that the defendants shot one Magaji Usman in the leg during the attack under circumstances that could have resulted in a culpable homicide charge had the victim died.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Their lawyers argued that the accused persons had spent years in detention before the commencement of trial and urged the court to grant them bail, citing their constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

However, in her ruling, Justice Maryam Ahmad Sabo held that the charges were serious and that the defendants had not provided sufficient grounds for the court to exercise its discretion in their favour.

“The court, when exercising its discretion in granting bail, must consider the seriousness and severity of the offences. I am of the view that granting bail at this stage may not serve the interest of justice,” the judge ruled.

She subsequently dismissed the bail applications of the first, second and third defendants.

The court, however, upheld an earlier decision granting bail to the fourth defendant, Muammiru Warawa, on health grounds.