The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, on Tuesday said it was deeply saddened by the news of the release without trial of the five suspects accused of killing a 74-year-old Christian woman in Kano, Mrs Bridget Agbahime, who was murdered sometime in June, 2016.
The five suspects – Zubairu Abubakar, Musa Abdullahi, Dauda Ahmed, Abdullahi Abubakar and Abdulmumeen Mustafa, were slammed with a four-count charge of allegedly inciting disturbance, culpable homicide, joint act and mischief.
In July, a Kano Magistrates’ Court denied bail to the suspects and had ordered that they be remanded in prison custody.
But at a sitting last week, the Magistrate, Muhammad Jibril, discharged the suspects and terminated the case as advised by the attorney-general of Kano State.
Their release has since raised concern as Nigerians have condemned the court ruling.
Secretary General of Northern CAN, Mr. Danladi Yerima, said in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna, that the religious body received with utter shock and dismay the discharge and subsequent release of the suspects.
Yerima said, “We view this action of government as callous, reckless, a miscarriage of justice and an invitation to violence.”
“We are disturbed that this action will further serve as an evil lubricant to the perpetual and unrepentant murderers,” the statement added.
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