Fulani herdsmen remanded for killing woman

[Mirror]

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja has remanded two Fulani herdsmen, Anaruwa Illiyasu, and Abdulrahman Yusuf in prison custody for allegedly killing a woman, Mallama Hajo Illiyasu.

The Magistrate, Mr Levi Animoku ordered that the accused persons be remanded at Koto- Karfe Prison after taking their plea.

The prosecution told the court that the duo, on June 4, conspired, armed themselves with guns; shot and killed the deceased. The deceased who was said to be on her way to Lokoja to sell milk was cut down and she fell and died on the spot. Mallama Hajo who was also the wife of the first accused, Illiyasu, was alleged to have been practising witchcraft.

The accused persons were charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide contrary to sections 97(1) and 221 of the Penal Code,even as the accused pleaded not guilty.

The police Prosecutor, Mr. Ganagana submitted that investigation into the case was in progress and asked for adjournment as he opposed granting of bail to the accused.

He said the alleged offence was not bailable moreso, the court had no jurisdiction to try the case and therefore urged that they be remanded in prison custody. Animoku in his ruling, said culpable homicide was the highest known crime to our laws and it carried death penalty.

He said that section 341 of the criminal procedure code precluded the court from granting bail to the accused and consequently ordered that Illiyasu and Yusuf be remanded at Federal Prisons, Kotonkarfe.

Animoku adjourned the case to June 26 for further mention.

National Mirror