By Bashir Bello, Kano

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Kano has on Wednesday ordered the remand of a son, Yusuf Haruna, and his father, Haruna Sani, in connection with the alleged murder of a renowned imam, Sani Muhammad, in Kano State.

While the son, Yusuf Haruna, was arraigned and stood trial on a count charge of culpable homicide, the father, Haruna Sani, was arraigned for allegedly taking his son into hiding or shedding him from being arrested.

When the matter came up before the court on Wednesday, the prosecution counsel, Bar. Fatima Ado Ahmad, alleged that on December 31, 2023, at about 7 p.m., the defendant, Yusuf Haruna, attacked and stabbed the 45-year-old Imam with a sharp knife at his back to death.

“As a result, the victim sustained a deep injury and was rushed to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a doctor.

“The offence contravened the provision of Section 221 of the Penal Code,” she said.

The prosecution counsel, Ado Ahmad, also alleged that on the same date, December 31, 2023, the defendant, Haruna Sani allegedly hid his son “Yusuf” after stabbing Mohammed to death, contrary to Section 167 of the Penal Code.

Responding, the defense counsel, Bar. Ahmad Rufa’i, holding brief for Bar. Rabiu Sidi, prayed the court grant the defendant, Haruna Sani, bail under sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended and section 168 of ACJL 2019 Kano State, whereas the prosecution counsel, Bar. Fatima Ado Ahmad, objected to the bail application.

The presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Binta Ibrahim Galadanchi, however, ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre for over two weeks.

Similarly, Chief Magistrate Galadanchi adjourned the matter until January 31, 2024, for further mention in the case of Yusuf Haruna and for ruling on bail applications in the case of the father, Haruna Sani.