NIGERIA: NIGER COURT SENTENCES 11 TO DEATH BY HANGING

February 9, 2022:

A Minna High Court has sentenced 11 persons to death by hanging for their involvement in the murder of seven villagers over a land dispute in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State.
The eleven accused were pronounced guilty of a seven-count charge of murder and conspiracy to commit murder and culpable homicide under sections 221 and 229 of the penal code.
Those sentenced to death included Mohammed Mohammed, Baba Mohammed, Mohammed Isa, Abubakar Saba Adamu Babaminin, and Ibrahim Emigi.
Others to also die by hanging included Haruna Mohammed, Isah Madu, Ndama Sheshi Isah Mohammed and Mohammed Ndabida.
They were among the 26 people charged to the court for the murder of seven persons in an attack on Gaba village from Afani village in disputed farmland between the two communities in 2019.
The presiding Judge, Justice Maimuna Talatu Abubakar, in her judgment held that the prosecutor proved beyond reasonable doubt the charges against the accused persons.
She said the accused persons did not deserve the clemency of the court considering the grievous of the offence and the manner in which it was carried out.
She however acquitted 15 other accused persons for lack of convincing evidence.
According to the Judge: ‘I don’t think in this circumstances, there is the extenuating basis for which the court make recommendations, consequently, on the 1st to 7th count charges of conspiracy and culpable homicide, by causing the death of 7 deceased persons I hereby sentenced you to death by hanging until you die. May Allah have mercy on your souls.’