The Kano High Court has handed down a death sentence to two men, Yusuf Ahmad and Auwal Abdulhamid, for the murder of their friend, Ibrahim Umar-Mahmud, following a dispute over football. The court ordered that the convicts be hanged until death.
Details of the Conviction
Justice Musa Dahuru-Muhammad delivered the judgment on Monday, May 25, 2026, ruling that the prosecution had established its case beyond any reasonable doubt. The judge consequently sentenced both men to death by hanging for the charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
Ahmad, a resident of Rijiyar Lemo Quarters in Ungogo Local Government Area, and Abdulhamid, from Bachirawa Quarters in Kano, were found guilty of the offenses.
Prosecution's Case
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, informed the court that the crime occurred on June 7, 2025, at Bachirawa Quarters in Kano. He stated that around 10 a.m., the convicts caused the death of Umar-Mahmud by stabbing him in the chest with a knife after a misunderstanding about football.
The prosecutor added, "The deceased was rushed to the Waziri Gidado Hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed his death." The prosecution presented five witnesses and submitted exhibits to support its case against the defendants.
Defense and Verdict
Despite the evidence, the convicts denied committing the offense. The defense counsel, Mr. Mubarak Muhammad, presented the convicts to testify in their own defense. However, the court found them guilty and handed down the death sentence.
According to the prosecutor, the offenses contravene the provisions of Section 97(1) and 221(a) of the Penal Code Law.
