SSS Operative Murder: Accused Retracts Confessional Statement In Court

KANO, Sept 21, (THEWILL) - Bello Garba Bello aka Baba, who allegedly killed his parents and three of his siblings recently has denied committing the act during his arraignment in Kano court on Monday.

Bello Garba had few hours after the crime, confessed at a press conference to have committed the multiple murders in his effort to avert the burden of taking care of the family, if the father dies from a terminal illness.

His brother, Farouk Garba, who was the only witness to the crime told newsmen that it was Baba (his brother) who single-handedly committed the murders, stating that if he had not escaped into the toilet, he would have equally been killed by the accused.

According to the Police First Information Report [FIR], the accused had, on September 13th, 2010, at house number 173 Federal Government Housing Estate, Zoo Road Kano, picked two knives from the family kitchen and stabbed his father, Garba Bello 54, a staff of the State Security Service (SSS) which led to his demise.

The accused, the FIR added, also killed four others including his mother Habiba Garba 40, his junior brother Khalifa Garba, 14, Hafsat and Murjanatu 16 and 5 years old respectively

Speaking before the court when he was arraigned, state counsel, Barrister Isa Yusuf, applied that the court had mandated the state Commissioner of Police to send the case diary to the state Attorney General for advice. He also applied that the case be adjourned to October 7, 2010 for mention and the accused remanded in prison custody. The charge against the accused which is culpable homicide contravenes Section 221 of the Penal Code Law.

The presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Hadiza Dahiru Mustapha granted all the counsel’s request.