Kano Government Denies Stalling Doguwa’s Trial

• The Kano State Government has denied the allegations that it plans to halt the murder trial of Alhassan Doguwa.

• Doguwa was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while boarding a flight to Abuja.

• Doguwa has been accused for leading thugs to set ablaze the NNPP secretariat in the State and causing the death of at least 2 people.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Kano State Government has denied reports that it plans to halt the culpable homicide and other criminal charges brought against Alhassan Doguwa, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. Doguwa was arrested for alleged links to electoral violence in Kano State during the February 25th presidential elections.

According to reports, Doguwa was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Abuja. He was accused of personally leading the thugs that set ablaze the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) secretariat in Kano, where at least two people were killed.

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The incident occurred in the Tudun Wada local government area of Kano. Doguwa was arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court on charges of arson and murder, including criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, arson, and illegal possession of firearms, among others.

Speaking about the trial with journalists on Friday, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, clarified that the case was adjourned by the Kano State Magistrate’s Court 54 pending when legal advice would be ready for proper prosecution at the High Court.

Lawan said that the Ministry of Justice was not aware of any bail application by the defendant, stating, “Though granting bail pending trial is not in any way the end of the case, sincerely speaking, the Ministry of Justice is not aware of the bail application by the defendant; we were not served because it was an ex parte application.”

The Justice Commissioner revealed that the police supplied the state with the case diary last Wednesday, adding that the Ministry of Justice had studied the case diary carefully.

Given the nature of the charges against the defendant, Lawan stated that the Ministry of Justice needed to study the case diary carefully before giving legal advice and preparing charges.

He emphasized that the Kano State Government has no intention of filing nolle prosequi in favor of the defendant, describing the report as politically motivated.

Lawan said:

“We have perused the case diary, and I already instructed the case file to be transmitted to the police yesterday, Thursday, with our observations and legal advice so that we can properly charge and arraign the defendant at the state High Court with the offenses he allegedly committed.”