The freed suspects
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and Abuja has expressed its outrage over a recent court decision to free the five suspects accused of killing an Igbo woman trader, Mrs. Bridget Agbahime in Kano State for alleged blasphemy.
Agbahime was killed on June 2 by an irate mob in Kofar Wambai Market, Kano State. Following huge public outcry, five suspects, Zubairu Abubakar, Musa Abdullahi, Dauda Ahmed, Abdullahi Abubakar and Abdulmumeen Mustafa were arraigned for her murder. However, all were later freed by the court on the application of Kano State Attorney General.
CAN public relations officer, Rev. John Hayab, told journalists in Kaduna that the judgment had brought the judiciary into “further disrepute.”
He called on the Attorney General of the Federation to, as a matter of urgency, to call to order the Attorney General in Kano and ensure that justice was seen to be done in the case.
Hayab warned that the decision to free the suspects could encourage people to take laws into their hands because, according to him, evil was seen to be unpunished and many other groups “will be tempted to harm or kill innocent citizens under any and every false guise since they can buy their freedom from the courts.”
He gave the assurance that the association would not relent until justice was seen to have been done. At the same time, Hayab urged Christians and other members of the public to remain calm, as “all avenues will be explored to ensure that justice is done.”
cpcnews.org 