Murder of Niger village head: Court orders remand of prime suspect

Justice Aisha Wodu of a Suleja High Court, Niger State, has ordered the re-remand of Musa Ibrahim, who is standing trial for alleged involvement in the murder of the village head of Lambata, Mohammed Abdulsafur.

The suspect was earlier granted bail by a High Court sitting in Minna, but was re-arraigned on the orders of Justice Wodu.

She ordered that the suspect be brought to court by his surety to face the charges levelled against him as one of the major accused persons in the death of the village head.

The suspect had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of culpable homicide, contrary to sections 221 8 and 79 of the Penal Code read against him

The judge adjourned the case to 10th and 11th June for the commencement of the hearing.

This followed an application by the prosecuting state counsel Barr Umar Hamidu, who requested permission to file amended charges while informing the court that some of the accused are still at large.

Hamidu also told the court that the first and second accused persons, Iliya and Hamza Umar Sarki, were not in court as they were said to have been transferred to the Kuje custodial center.

According to him, the development followed the recent escape of some inmates in the Suleja custodial center after the collapse of parts of the facility.

Murder of Niger village head: Court orders remand of prime suspect