The Kano State High Court, on Wednesday, again ordered that Hafsat Suraj, 24, should be referred to a psychiatric hospital for mental evaluation.

The defendant, who lives in Unguwa Uku Quarters Kano, is facing a one-count charge of culpable homicide.

Justice Zuwaira Yusuf ordered that the defendant be referred to the state psychiatrist for treatment and evaluation.

“After which I will make a comparison with the defendant’s medical certificate from Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital dated February 26, to enable the court to look at the report to exercise fair Justice,” said the judge.

Mr Yusuf also ordered that the defendant be kept in the custody of Kurmawa Correctional Centre in Kano.

The court, on February 8, ordered that a medical doctor should mentally evaluate Ms Suraj at Kurmawa Correctional Centre after she refused to talk in court.

The prosecution counsel, Halima Yahuza, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on December 1, 2023, at Unguwa Uku Quarters Kano.

She alleged that Ms Suraj, on the same date, stabbed her houseboy, Nafiu Hafizu, 38, in the chest and other parts of his body, which led to his death.

Meanwhile, the court has refused to grant bail to Ms Suraj’s husband, Dayyabu Abdullahi, Adamu Muhammad and Nasidi Muhammad, for concealment of fact over the alleged murder of Nafiu.

In a ruling, Mr Zuwaira held that the offence was serious and that the defendants could not be granted bail except in special circumstances.

“No circumstances stated in the bail application, I hereby refuse the bail application,” said the judge.

She, therefore, ordered an accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter until March 26 for further mention.

The three defendants were alleged to have given false information to screen Ms Suraj from legal punishment for the alleged murder of Mr Nafiu.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

(NAN)