Minna court frees PDP chieftain, others

By Wole Mosadomi

MINNA— THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Niger State and former aide to immediate past governor of the state, Abdulkadir Kure, Alhaji Usman Kagara, has been released from prison custody after standing trial over allegation of culpable homicide.

In her judgment in Minna yesterday, Justice Fati Abubakar of Minna High Court set the PDP chieftain  free with two others for want of evidence. According to her, “I found in the circumstances that the prosecution has not proved the offences of culpable homicide of causing the death of Umar Abdullahi Wadacha as contained under section 221 of the Penal Code.”

“The position of the law here is that in a charge of culpable homicide, if the cause of death has not been proved, it is futile and illogical to proceed to consider whether it was the accused persons who caused the death or not. I hereby discharge and acquit Usman Kagara Usman and two others,” the Judge declared.

It would be recalled that the accused persons were alleged to have caused the death of one Malam Abdullahi Umar Wadacha during the state local government election on  March 29, 2008 at Kwana Mariga Primary School in Rafi local government area of the state.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adamu Usman while reacting to the judgement said the state will abide by the judgement, in compliance with the rule of law but said government is likely to appeal the judgement after carefully studying it.