The newly-elected governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, said he will reopen the homicide case against the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa.
Doguwa was alleged to have shot and killed three people during an election-related clash between his supporters and members of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) in the Tudun Wada Local Government of Kano state.
Earlier this month, though, the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kano state, Musa Lawan, said the government was dropping the murder charge originally filed against Doguwa by the police.
Lawan said that the reason was because the government could not substantiate the charges of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire, and culpable homicide against the lawmaker.
He stated this after the police submitted a report of its investigation of the incident to the Kano State government for review and possible prosecution of Doguwa and 14 others.
However, the new administration in Kano state led by governor Yusuf on Monday said that it will resume and pursue the murder case against Doguwa to a logical conclusion.
“In the same vein, we shall investigate all cases of political violence that led to loss of lives and properties across the state in the last eight years,” Yusuf said in his inaugural speech as the new Kano governor.
“The infamous case of Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who allegedly sponsored the maiming and murder of over 15 innocent souls in Tudun Wada Local Government will be pursued to its logical conclusion.”
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, had on May 20, 2023 transmitted the case file of alleged culpable homicide and other criminal charges levelled against Doguwa to the Kano State government.
Represented by the Commissioner of Police, Kano, CP Mohammad Usaini Gumel, the IGP delivered the investigative document to Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Musa A. Lawan, after discreet findings on allegations.
Doguwa, representing Doguwa/Tudun-Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State, was slammed with a five-count charge, following the electoral violence that characterised the National Assembly election in his constituency, where some opposition party members were allegedly killed.
He was remanded by a Chief Magistrate’s Court over the criminal charges, but was later granted N500 million bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on ex parte motion premised on his fundamental right.
