NIGERIA: 23-YEAR-OLD SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING RIVAL

January 22, 2014: In Nigeria, a Jos High Court sentenced a 23-year-old man, Harisu Abdullahi, to death by hanging for killing Abubakar Danlami, a rival in a contest for a woman’s love. Justice Sirajo Mohammed sentenced Abdullahi while delivering judgment on the matter, brought before the court since 2010. Mohammed declared that the prosecution had convinced the court beyond any reasonable doubts that the accused committed the offence. “The prosecution did an excellent job that convinced the court that the convict committed culpable homicide. It presented many witnesses who testified and also brought concrete evidences that proved the accused guilty of the offence for which he was being charged. “The confessional statement of the accused also assisted the court.” The court had heard, through the Plateau Director of Public Prosecution, Mr J.T.Manomi, that the accused committed the offence on April 14, 2010 at about 7 p.m.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the course of the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty, while his counsel, Mr S.S Mshelia, insisted that the said confessional statement was obtained under duress. (Sources: Daily Post, 22/01/2014)