A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Na’abba Usman, has ruled that the alleged killer of Hanifa Abubakar, Abdulmalik Tanko, was not tortured by the police, while in custody.
The prime suspect in the last sitting had through his Lead Counsel, Usman Labaran, alleged that he was tortured by the police while extracting a statement from him.
This resulted in a call for a trial-within- trial.
The sitting on Wednesday is primarily to determine if truly, the alleged prime suspect, Abdulmalik Tanko and his co-defendant were tortured by the police.
While ruling on the matter, Justice Usman Na’abba, said the prime suspect did not tell the court the device used to torture him.
He said the evidence presented by the two witnesses against the suspects are more credible and admissible in law.
The presiding judge, therefore, ruled that the statements of the suspects were extracted voluntarily and not under duress.
In continuation of the trial, the prosecuting counsel, Musa Lawal presented two more witnesses, both of which are police officers, who read the statements they have extracted from the suspects before the court.
Also read: Prime suspect alleged for killing 5-year-old Hanifa accuses Police of torture in custody.
The second defendant, Hashimi, said the statement read before the court was not extracted from him.
Counsel to the defendants, Usman Labaran, said they will open their defence, once the prosecuting counsel closed their case.
He also welcomed the ruling that went against his clients.
The prosecuting counsel, Musa Lawal, while expressing satisfaction with the ruling in the trial within trial, said they have presented about seven witnesses, and hope to close their case at the next sitting.
Justice Usman Na’abba adjourned the matter to March the 23rd 2022.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
