The chief judge of Niger state, Justice Halima Abdulmalik has sentenced 31-year-old Hamza Muhammed to death by hanging after he was found guilty of two count charges of culpable homicide.
The conviction is coming after 9 years of legal battle which he was commenced in August 2015.
The incident was said to have occurred during a free-for-all fight that erupted in a party between youths of the Kpakungu area of Minna and youths of Barikin Saleh where one Isah Mohammed was stabbed to death by one Baba Usman (now at large).
Usman was said to have pursued the deceased with a knife along with the convict Mohammed until Usman stabbed the deceased severally which resulted in his death on the spot.
The convict was arraigned in court in August 2015 by men of the Homicide squad of the Niger State Police Command on two count charge of joint act and culpable homicide, an offence punishable under sections 79 and 221 of the penal code.
The convict, however, denied participating in stabbing the deceased arguing that he and Usman pursued the deceased but he, Usman was the person who stabbed the deceased.
He argued that he only came there to meet the deceased in a pool of his own blood admitting that he and Usman (now at large), both pursued the deceased with a knife to stab him.
In a two-hour judgment delivered by the Presiding High Court Judge and chief judge of Niger State,
Justice Halima Abdulmalik held that the two count charges of joint act and culpable homicide punishable under section 221 and section 79 of the penal code were established against the convict Hamza Mohammed ” and is hereby sentenced and convict accordingly”.
She further held that the Prosecutor was able to prove the two count charges of joint act and culpable homicide punishable under section 79 and 221 punishable by death beyond every reasonable doubt and is hereby Convicted as a charge.
” The case of culpable homicide punishable by death is mandatory. You Hamza Mohammed are hereby Convicted and sentenced to death by hanging until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul”, justice Abdulmalik said.
