Need to Investigate Doguwa’s Case
TheKanoStateAttorney-GeneralandCommissionerfor Justice,Mr.M.A.Lawan,lastThursdaysaidtherewereno substantialevidencetolinkMajorityLeaderoftheHouse ofRepresentatives,AlhassanDoguwa,withtheelectoral violence that swept through his country home.
Theincidenthadreportedlyresultedinthedeathof15 New Nigeria People’s Party supporters.
Briefingreportersinhisofficeinrespectofthecase,Lawan said: “We are of the opinion that we cannot substantiate chargesofcriminalconspiracy,mischiefbyfireandculpable homicide against Ado Doguwa”.
The outgoing AG added: “The statement of those that implicatedhimwerefullofcontradictions.Andapartfrom theircontradictorystatements,wecouldnotfindmedical evidencetoprovethatthedeathofthedeceasedpersons was caused by Alhassan Ado Doguwa”.
Recallthataftertheincident,Doguwa,whorepresents Doguwa/Tundun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State,wasdetainedbythepoliceandchargedforcriminal conspiracy, and culpable homicide.
Whenthecasewasfirstheardincourt,thepolicepros- ecutorsaidDoguwaallegedlycommittedtheoffenceon February25attheTudunWadaLocalGovernmentArea of Kano State.
JusticeYunusaMuhammadhimgrantedhimbailinthe sumofN500million,withtheconditionthatthesuspect must provide two sureties, one of which shall be a first- classtraditionalrulerwhiletheothermustbeapermanent secretary at the federal or state civil service.
Later, the State High Court presided over by Justice MaryamSaboorderedthestateAttorneyGeneralandCom- missionerforJustice,Lawan,toimmediatelyfileacharge againstDoguwaandhisotherallegedco-conspirators.
EventhoughDoguwa’ssupportershavearguedthathe isinnocentoftheallegations,manyarewonderinghowwill thefamiliesofthepeoplewhoallegedlydiedinthepublic disturbance feel when they hear the recommendation of the outgoing AG.
In a country where everything, including the lives of thepeopleispoliticised,nobodywasexpectingthatthe stateAllProgressivesCongress(APC)ledbytheoutgoing GovernorAbdullahiGandujewouldrecommendDoguwa, a member of the party, for prosecution.
While many will accuse Lawan of alleged bias in his recommendation,theycallontheincomingadministration of NNPP to be led by Abba Kabir Yusuf, to thoroughly investigatethecaseandensurethatthoseresponsible for the murder of the victims are severely dealt with.