Kano Govt Speaks On Stopping Doguwa’s Murder Trial

The Kano State Government has debunked reports that it plans to stop the culpable homicide and other criminal charges filed against the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa.

Recall that Ado Doguwa was arrested over alleged links to electoral violence in Kano State during the February 25th presidential elections.

Doguwa was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while about to board a flight to Abuja. Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested the high-ranking National Assembly member over allegations that he personally led the thugs that set ablaze the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) secretariat in Kano, where at least two persons were burnt to death.

The violent event happened in the Tudun Wada local government area of Kano. Doguwa was immediately arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court on charges of arson and murder. (Zolpidem)

He was nailed for 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, said that as far as the Ministry of Justice was concerned, 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.

He said: “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.”

Revealing that the police supplied the state with the case diary last Wednesday, the Justice Commissioner said: “We have studied the case diary very well, and you know, we don’t need to rush, considering the nature of the charge against the defendant; this is capital offence. For us to give legal advice and prepare a charge, we need to study it very well.

“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 offences he allegedly committed.”

He dismissed insinuations that the Kano State Government planned to file nolle prosequi in favour of the defendant, describing the report as politically motivated.