Justice Usman Na’abba of a Kano High Court has fixed March 9 and March 10, for ruling in the trial-within-trial in the case of murder of a minor filed Abdulmalik Tanko, her teacher.
Tanko, 34, is charged alongside Hashimu Isyaku, 37, and Fatima Musa, 26, all of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano with criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap, abetment/kidnapping, and concealing a corpse.
The offense, the Kano State Government contravened sections 97, 95, and 273,274(b) and 277 of the Penal Code Laws of Kano State 1991.
Justice Usman Na’abba fixed the date after listening to the Prosecution and Defence Counsel.
He ordered that the suspects be remanded in a correctional facility.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr. Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, who is the Commissioner for Justice presented some witnesses who testified in the case.
Sgt. Ridwan Ibrahim, attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Kano Command, told the court that the case was transferred to the unit on Jan. 20 from the Department of State Service (DSS).
Ibrahim added that he was asked to take the statement of Tanko and Muhammad.
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He said that he cautioned Tanko on having a lawyer present before making the statement.
Ibrahim said the statement was recorded in English Language and that Tanko read, agreed, and signed the statement.
He said Muhammad also read and signed her statement.
The prosecution counsel, therefore, urged the court to accept and mark the statement as an exhibit.
The defense counsel, Mukhtar Labaran of the Legal Aid Council, objected, saying that the suspects’ statements were not taken voluntarily.
He then urged the court for a trial-within-trial to ensure fairness in the case.
The trial within the trial is a complete trial on its own, during which the main case is put on hold, and parties are called upon to prove whether a statement was voluntarily obtained. (NAN)
