#KANO KILLER CHILD-BRIDE: There is no case here—Defense counsel; She cannot escape death penalty through back door—Defence counsel

The prosecution counsel canvassing death penalty for 14-year-old child bride, Wasila Tasiu, over culpable homicide, has told a Kano High Court, Gezawa, that the suspect cannot escape justice through back door.
The prosecution counsel, Lamido Dinki’s position came on the heels of a no-case submission by the defence counsel, Hussaina Ibrahim, who urged the court to acquit and discharge the accused person.
Wasila Tasiu has been standing trial for the past 10 months for allegedly killing her husband and three others through food poisoning.
The prosecution lawyer told the court not to evaluate his evidence, especially as the defence lawyers were yet to enter their defence.
The state counsel further argued that “the issue about the credibility of our witnesses does not even arise, because the law said the testimony of our witnesses should only be treated on case value.”
Dinki cited Supreme Court judgement on Agbo versus the state in 2013 that “a no-case submission should be determined within the narrow compass of the legally-admissible evidence produced by the prosecution, and as such should be based on a case value.”
He said the no-case submission could not stand on the case under review, adding that such step would pave way for the accused persons to escape justice through the back door.
However, the court has reserved ruling on whether Wasila Tasiu has a case to answer under the law for March 31.
The presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Yahaya, ruled: “The court, hereby, fix March 31 for ruling on the application by the defence counsel on no-case submission on behalf of Wasila Tasiu.”