Capital punishment law concept of a wooden court gavel lying beside a sign that reads death penalty.
A Kano High Court on Monday, sentenced two men, Adamu Aliyu, 22, and Mubarak Abdulsalam, 20, to death by hanging for stabbing one Dahiru Musa, 32, to death.
The court also sentenced the third defendant, Sadiq Sunusi, 19, to seven years imprisonment for abetment, burning the corpse of the deceased Musa.
Aliyu, of Gaida Yan Kusa Quarters, Kano, and Abdulsalam, of Mandawari Quarters, Kano, were convicted on two-counts charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, while Sunusi was convicted on a one-count of abetment.
Delivering judgment, Justice Fatima Adamu held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Adamu described the conduct of the defendants, particularly the killing, poisoning and subsequent burning of the deceased’s corpse to conceal evidence, as inhumane and wickedness.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr. Salisu Muhammad-Tahir, who is also the Kano Solicitor-General, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Sept.29, 2024, at Gaida Yan Kusa Quarters in Kano.
He said that on that fateful day, the first and second defendant, criminally conspired, poisoned the deceased, who was the first defendant’s boss, with a rat poison before stabbing him in various parts of his body with knives.
Muhammad-Tahir further told the court that on Sept.30, 2024 at about 6:00 p.m, Sunusi escorted Abdulsalam to Gaida Quarters, where they bought petrol before proceeding to an uncompleted building.
“In the process Abdulsalam used the petrol to burn the corpse, while Sunusi, who knew it was a human body, failed to report the incident to the authorities.
The prosecution called five witnesses and several exhibits including knives, confessional statements, and video to establish its case against the defendants.
He said the offences contravened Sections 97, 221 and 86 of the Penal Code.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Defense Counsel, Mr. Mustafa Idris, presented the defendants to testify and pleaded for leniency on behalf of the defendants praying the court to temper justice with mercy.
The judge gave the convicts 90 days to appeal if they are not okay with the judgement.(NAN)
