The suspects, Abdulmaliq Tanko, Hashimu Isiyaku and Fatima Musa, are facing five charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, culpable homicide and abatement of crime.

Although the prime suspect, Tanko, and Isiyaku pleaded not guilty to four counts except criminal conspiracy, Musa denied culpability of all five charges.

At the resumption of the hearing, yesterday, a Kano High Court 5, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawan Abdullahi, presented three prosecution witnesses before Justice Usman Na’aba.

The witnesses, including two personnel of Department State Service (DSS) and a police inspector, who gave testimonies before the court, submitted 10 exhibits to substantiate their claims against the suspects.

Exhibits presented to the court include four telephone sets, shovels, the victim’s uniforms and photographs, N30,300 found with the first suspect, among others.

Speaking with journalists after the six-hour sitting, defence counsel, Muktar Usman, who said the witnesses were cross-examined to the satisfaction of the defence, declared readiness to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.

On his part, the prosecution counsel, who doubles as the Kano attorney-general, told the court that additional three witnesses would be presented in the next sitting.

Justice Na’aba adjourned the matter till March 3, 2022 (today) for further examination of witnesses. (The Guardian)