NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING NEWBORN BABY IN ADAMAWA

July 25, 2020:

The Appeal Court in Yola, Adamawa State, on 22 July 2020 upheld the death sentence of a man for killing his newborn baby boy.
A 50-year-old, Saidu Abdullahi of Tarawo Ward in Song Local Government Area, is to be hanged by the neck until confirmed dead for the murder.
The convict and resident of Tarawo ward in Song LGA caused the death of the innocent child by strangulating him to death on the 9 March 2013.
Saidu was apprehended and charged to the state High court for the offence of culpable homicide contrary to section 221 of the State Penal Code Law.
Delivering judgement after finding him guilty of taking the life of a helpless child on 20 May 2019, the High Court presided by Honourable Justice Nathan Musa, convicted him to death.
Justice Musa told the convict that his hands were tied, and had no option but invoke the provision of section 221 of the Penal Code Law by sentencing him to death, and prayed God to have mercy on him.
The convict later approached the Court of Appeal in Yola so as set aside the judgment of the trial court to enable him to continue with his life.
The Appeal Court at its 22 July sitting presided by Honourable Justice Abdullahi M. Bayero, however, dismissed the appeal and affirmed the verdict of the lower court.
Justice Bayero said that it was clear that the appellant committed the crime based on the confessional statement he voluntarily made and that it was enough for a conviction.
All that is required, according to him, is for the prosecution to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and that there was enough evidence that linked the convict with the offence, saying it was his act that sent the newborn baby boy to his early grave.
He added that the validation of the conviction and sentence of the convict was a unanimous decision of the panel of judges, affirming the death sentence.