Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, majority leader of the House of Representatives, was cleared of a murder charge on Thursday by Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Musa Abdullahi-Lawan.
According to Abdullahi-Lawan, who briefed reporters in Kano, the ministry was unable to prove Doguwa’s claims of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire, and culpable homicide.
“We cannot find sufficient evidence to link Doguwa with the said offences, considering that we are faced with so much inculpatory and exculpatory evidence for and against him,” Abdullahi-Lawan said.
He claimed that the claims made by individuals who accused Doguwa were contradictory and lacked medical proof of the victims’ deaths.
“The law is clear that the allegations that Doguwa killed people cannot be substantiated.
“We are variably guided by the findings of the investigations of the Police as contained in the case diary sent from the FCID devoid of sentiments, fear or favour,” he said.
According to Abdullahi-Lawan, the second and third suspects who helped Doguwa were found to have a pistol and 30 rounds of live ammo, and further research has shown that the ammunition provided to them by Ballistic States was discovered undamaged.
“Some of the witnesses said Doguwa carried a Dane gun while some said it was a pistol.
“No bullet shell was recovered at the scene, only one knife, cutlass and charm,” he said.
Abdullahi-Lawan reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to ensuring that justice, equity, and fairness are ultimately administered, regardless of who is favored.
He stated that under section 336 of the Penal Code as modified, eight to twelve additional defendants would face mischief by fire charges in court.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Doguwa was charged with murder on March 1 and arraigned before a Senior Magistrate. On March 6, a Federal High Court in Kano granted him N500 million in bail.
