Drama in court, as judge adjourns case for failing to communicate with deaf suspect

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

There was a mild drama at Kano State Shari’ah Court number 3, yesterday when imperfection to speak with a deaf suspect, forced the presiding judge, Ibrahim Sarki Yola, to adjourned a case.

The accused, Sani Ado, who is deaf and dumb, a resident of Kofar Nasarawa area of Municipal Local Government in Kano, was suspected to have stabbed one Shu’aibu Haladu, for suspecting him of gossiping.

Standing before the court with hand wrapped up with bandage , Mr. Haladu, told the court that he was sitting on a bench, chatting with a friend when the defendant, suspecting them of gossiping because he can’t hear what they were saying, found a machete and stabbed him on the hand.

But, the drama began when the presiding judge turned to hear from the accused, but all effort to communicate with him proved fruitless because he doesn’t know how to speak with a deaf person.

Therefore, Magistrate Yola directed the prosecutor, Inspector Yusuf Garba, to speak to the accused, but he too could not communicate with him.

Hence, the presiding judge, adjourned the case to 3rd December, 2014, and ordered that an expert who can communicate with the accused be brought for continued hearing.