Cases

The most notable success of the PDO since commencement is that of Baby Khadijah vs. one MrMuttaka Muhammad. The case was reported to the Public Defender’s Office (PDO) Kano in June 2017. The case was filed on behalf of Baby Khadijah by the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative against Mr. Muttaka Muhammad and his wife, who were alleged to have committed the act of sexually violating the baby. At the time of the unfortunate incident, Baby Khadija was only six months old.

On the 15th of November, In delivering the judgement the Acting Chief Judge granted all the reliefs and awarded a sum of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000) as compensation being special damages for the expenses so far made by the baby’s family on her health since the occurrence of the unfortunate incident.

The case of Idris Nuhu was referred to Public Defenders office by the prison warders of Kano central prison, Kurmawa when our staff went there for interview of inmates who have stayed in the prison beyond the constitutional time allowed. Idris (35) was accused of the rape of a 15 year old girl. He claims he was asleep at home, when the police woke him up and took him to the police station where he was accused of the rape of a 15 year old girl. He initially denied the accusation, but after much torture was forced to admit to the offence.

The PDO filed a fundamental right enforcement on behalf of Idris Nuhuon the grounds that he was detained for seven (7) years, a period far above the constitutional period allowed without arraigning him before a court with jurisdiction. Idris Nuhu was released on that same date and repatriated back to his family in DawakinTofa by Public Defenders Office.

The case of IliyasuBaduku alias Chindo was brought to Public Defenders office after the PDO’s first visit to Kano central prison, Kurmawa for interview of inmates who have stayed in the prison beyond the constitutional time allowed. Chindo (36) was accused of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery. He told the PDO that he was picked up and beaten by a village vigilante group while shopping at SabonGariMaje. He was later transferred to the police station where he was detained for 6 days, before he was brought to the central prison.

The PDO filed a fundamental right enforcement on behalf of Chindo. The Grounds of PDO’s application was that Chindo was detained for two (2) years, a period far above the constitutional period allowed without arraigning him before a court with jurisdiction. The Respondents informed the court that the Applicant was arrested based on suspicion and there is no evidence connecting the Applicant to the alleged offence.The PDO was able to secure Chindo’sunconditional release from prison after spending two years in detention. Chindo was taken to a car park and sent back to his family by PDO staff on 27th November, 2017.