Court hammers Kano men for kidnapping 3-year-old boy

A federal high court sitting in Kano, on Wednesday, sentenced two men, Umar Salisu and Abba Tijjani, to life imprisonment for kidnapping three-year-old Attahiru.

The defendants, residing at Kofar Waika Quarters Kano, whose ages were not provided by the court, were convicted on a two-count charge ranging from conspiracy to kidnapping.

In his ruling, Justice J. K. Daggard held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the first and second defendant, and to this extent sentenced them to life imprisonment.

Also, Daggard noted that the prosecution did not prove its case against the third defendant(Alhassan Jamilu) and, therefore, discharged and acquitted him.

Earlier, the prosecution Counsel, Mrs Hassana Habib, informed the court that the convicts committed the offence on December 2 and 8, 2017, at Gobirawa Turba Quarters Kano.

Habib said that on December 2, the trio conspired and kidnapped the three-year-old boy at Kofar Waika Quarters Kano.

She said, “The defendants, who kidnapped the said boy on Dec. 8, 2017, at Gobirawa Quarters Kano while playing in front of the house collected the sum of N200,000 as ransom.”

The prosecutor presented seven witnesses who testified against the defendants.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Sections 17 and 15 of the Terrorism (Prevention)(Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under same.

Counsel to the first and second defendant, Barrister Tohwo Oseruvwoja, called two witnesses before the court, while Counsel to the third defendant, Barrister Salisu Sule, produced one witness to prove its case.