Family of murdered Sa’adatu Rimi to appeal verdict

The family of late Hajiya Sa’adatu Abubakar Rimi, who was murdered in 2006, on Thursday said they would appeal against the Kano High Court judgement which freed the principal suspect in the case.

The court, presided by Justice Lawal Wada, on Wednesday dismissed the case of murder brought against the principal suspect, Mustapha Abubakar Rimi, said not to be a biological son of Sa’adatu’s husband, late Abubakar Rimi, former governor of the state.

The court, however, found him guilty of theft and sentenced him to five years imprisonment.

A younger brother of the deceased, Alhaji Bamanga Sambo, who spoke for the family, told newsmen in Kano that they had contacted their lawyers to file an appeal against the judgement.

“We are not satisfied with the judgement delivered by the court against Mustapha and we have resolved to appeal against it,’’ he said.

He called on the Kano State Government to assist the family to ensure that justice is done in the case.

Mustapha was arraigned in 2006 on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide, which the court dismissed due to the failure of the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.