From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
A man identified as Bello Musa has been arraigned by the police before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Birnin Kebbi on charges of culpable homicide, false information and fraudulent activities.
Musa was accused to have lodged at room 412, Shagalinku Hotel, Tudun Wada, Birnin Kebbi with Shamsiyya Usman, 31, now deceased, of Go-Slow area Birnin Kebbi, after which he allegedly poisoned her drinks. She was said to have died in the hotel room.
The accused person was arraigned before the magistrate for the crimes contrary to Sections 193, 140 and 142 of Kebbi State Penal Code of 2021.
When the First Information Report (FIR) was read to the defendant, also known as Katuka Dingyadi, who hails from Bodinga Local Government, Sokoto State, he replied that he was not guilty of the charges.
The charge sheet further narrated that: “At about 10am, Bello Musa poisoned her drinks of Maltina, 5Alive and Swan Water, and after drinking them, she died on the spot.”
He is also accused of abandoning her dead body while he escaped to unknown destination.
The Police Prosecutor Inspector Muntari Mati, informed the court that Bello Musa was arrested on 2/7/2024, at Sweet Hotel, Dangoro area, Marjani Street, Katsina Town, where he gave false information to the receptionist, claiming that his name is Zubairu Sani from Minna, Niger State, to avoid arrest. During a search on him, Bello Musa was found in possession of 18 different ATM cards of different banks, which he confessed to have used to defraud bank customers. But the accused person pleaded not guilty to the offences read to him. The Chief Magistrate, Usman Umar Bunza, has adjourned the case to the July 25 2024. He ordered that the accused person be remanded in Custodial Centre pending next appearance.