A High Court in Kebbi State has delivered a landmark judgment, sentencing three men to death for their involvement in armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.
Court Delivers Maximum Sentence
Justice Hassan Shehu Kuwa of the Kebbi State High Court 7, sitting in Birnin Kebbi, handed down the death penalty to Abdul Mohammed, Surajo Umar, and Aliyu Abdullahi. The trio faced a nine-count charge for armed robbery and criminal conspiracy, offenses tried under the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 2004 and the Kebbi State Penal Code Law 2021.
Prosecution Builds a Strong Case
The prosecution team, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Farida Muhammad from the Kebbi State Ministry of Justice, presented a compelling case. They called eight witnesses to testify against the defendants.
Key victims who gave evidence included Hamza Dandare, a retired banker, Hon. Aminu Garba Dandiga, a former Commissioner, and Aisha Sahabi Tamba. Their testimonies were crucial in establishing the guilt of the accused.
The court also admitted several exhibits as evidence, which painted a clear picture of the crimes. These items included:
- A cutlass
- A rubber shoe
- A plasma television
- Cash amounting to Two Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N2,850,000.00)
- A black cap
- The defendants' own confessional statements, recorded in both Hausa and English
Defense Fails to Challenge Evidence
During the trial, which began with their arraignment on November 17, 2023, all three defendants pleaded not guilty. However, the court noted that the defense, led by counsel C.C. Ojun, did not call any witnesses or present any exhibits to counter the prosecution's claims.
Justice Kuwa stated that the testimonies of prosecution witnesses 1, 3, 6, and 8 were "good, credible, and corroborated" and were never successfully challenged by the defense. Specifically, witness Hamza Dandare identified the first accused, Abdul Mohammed (also known as Audu Dukku), as one of the robbers who attacked him at his home in the Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi, stealing cash, phones, dollars, and other valuables.
Final Judgment and Plea for Leniency
The court ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven every element of the armed robbery and conspiracy charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the three men were found guilty and convicted as charged.
Following the conviction, defense counsel C.C. Ojun pleaded for mercy, referencing past judgments where death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. However, Justice Kuwa emphasized that the law mandated the death penalty for such proven offenses.
The judge clarified that while the court was bound to pass the mandatory sentence, he would formally write to Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris. The Governor holds the constitutional authority to consider appeals for clemency or a reduction in sentence.
This case underscores the judiciary's firm stance on violent crimes like armed robbery in Kebbi State, sending a strong message about the consequences of such criminal conspiracy.
