The Kano State Government has filed fresh criminal charges before State High Court II, against three defendants over alleged murder of a housewife and her six children.
The thee defendants allegedly murdered a housewife, Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her six children at Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters in Kano.
The defendants, Umar Auwalu of Sabuwar Gandu Quarters, Isyaku Yakubu of Sagagi Quarters, and Yakubu Abdulaziz of Sabon Gida Sharada Quarters, are standing trial before a State High Court II.
The trio, Auwalu, 23, Yakubu, 40, and Abdulaziz, 21, are facing an eight-count charge, including conspiracy, criminal trespass, robbery, culpable homicide, rape, mischief by fire, possession of dangerous weapons, and inflicting injuries.
The offences contravene Sections 97, 221, 283, 298, 319, 336, and 348 of the Penal Code.
At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Salisu Muhammad-Tahir, Solicitor-General, Kano State Ministry of Justice, informed the court that they have reviewed the case diary and the defendants have a strong case to answer.
“We have prepared and filed a charge, and the case was directed to Court 11, presided over by Justice Nasiru Saminu,” he said.
He said the defendants have a case to answer in all the cases, apart from Umar Ali, who has no case to answer in the homicide case involving a mother and her six children.
“Your Worship, we have already taken a date before the State High Court to arraign the defendants on April 1.
“We shall be asking for another date to terminate the First Information Report (FIR) after taking their plea before the High Court,” he said.
Earlier, Muhammad-Tahir told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on Jan. 17, at Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters.
He alleged that Umar, a nephew to the deceased, conspired with the other defendants and trespassed into the deceased’s residence.
“In the process, the defendants allegedly murdered the housewife and her six children.
“The defendants had earlier attacked, robbed, killed, and burnt two housewives at Tudun Yola Quarters in November 2025.
“We are glad to inform this honourable court that the case diary and legal advice dated Feb. 9 favour the prosecution. The defendants have a case to answer,” he added.
Similarly, the prosecutor told the court that they have collected the legal advice involving the three defendants and Umar Ali, who allegedly collected the eyes of a nine-year-old girl, which was said to have been removed by the first defendant Umar after raping her.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Defence Counsel, Mr A.S. Tunkuye, told the court that he had no objection to the filing of the case before the State High Court.
The Chief Magistrate, Auwal Yusuf-Suleiman, ordered the remand of the defendants in a Correctional Facility and adjourned the matter until April 8 for further mention.
