- Condemned For Stealing Duck, Car Stereo
After his conviction and subsequent death sentence, Abubakar Aminu has remained confined in Condemn Prisoner Cell (CPC) for 14 years without prerogative of mercy.
He was arrested at Hadejia in Jigawa State for stealing duck and Car stereo, but later detained for robbery, an offence, which earned him death penalty.
Abubakar is one of the 92 condemned inmates presently languishing in Kano Central Prison, over-stretching the two solitude compartments originally meant for 42 inmates.
Abubakar, who took advantage of the Minister of interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau’s visit on New Year day, asked for quick intervention in his case.
“ We were sentenced to death without killing anybody. We were arrested for stealing a duck and Car radio, which they valued at N3,000. But when the Police framed us and took us to Court, we were charged for armed robbery. They refused to allow us to hire lawyer after assuring us they would provide government lawyer for us. At the end of the day we did not see any lawyer and they did not allow us to defend ourselves before conviction and sentenced us to death. Please come to our aid”.
While conducting the Minister round the ancient Prison built over 100 years ago with dilapidated buildings, controller of Kano Prison Ahmad Abubakar revealed that the Prison is presently congested with 3,500 inmates, against normal capacity of 1,500.
According to him, 1066 of the inmates were awaiting trial, while 695 had already been convicted, adding that more than 500 others are still languishing in the prison because of their inability to pay fine of just N5,000
The Controller of Prison, Alhaji Ahmad Abubakar, told the Minister that the Prison lacks operational vehicles, accommodation and facilities for smooth activities.
General Abdulrahman Danbazau, who expressed concern on the condition of Prison facilities, said government is ready to decongest and rehabilitate the Prison, besides improving the welfare of Prison staff.
