Court Sentences Three Men to Death for Armed Robbery in Kebbi State

A High Court in Kebbi State, sitting in Birnin Kebbi, has handed down a death sentence to three individuals after finding them guilty of armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.

The presiding judge, Justice Hassan Shehu Kuwa, convicted Abdul Mohammed, Surajo Umar, and Aliyu Abdullahi following a full trial in which the prosecution successfully established its case against them. The defendants were tried on a nine-count charge relating to armed robbery and conspiracy.

Court records show that the three men were arraigned on November 17, 2023. The charges were filed under Sections 1(2)(a) and 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004, alongside Section 304 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.

The prosecution team was led by Barrister Farida Muhammad, who serves as a Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions at the Kebbi State Ministry of Justice. During the proceedings, the prosecution presented eight witnesses to substantiate the allegations.

Among those who testified were Hamza Dandare, a retired banker; Aminu Garba Dandiga, a former commissioner; and Aisha Sahabi Tamba. Their testimonies detailed the circumstances surrounding the robbery and the involvement of the accused persons.

Several exhibits were also tendered and admitted by the court. These included a cutlass, a rubber shoe, a plasma television set, cash amounting to ₦2.85 million, a black cap, as well as confessional statements made by the defendants. The confessions were documented in both Hausa and English languages.

While delivering judgment, Justice Kuwa stated that the evidence presented by the prosecution was reliable, coherent, and firmly supported by the material exhibits before the court. He noted that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses aligned with one another and remained unchallenged throughout the trial.

According to the judge, the defence failed to discredit the prosecution’s case. The defendants neither called witnesses nor presented exhibits in their defence, choosing instead to rely solely on oral denial of the allegations.

Justice Kuwa held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Based on the strength of the evidence and the applicable laws, the court found the three defendants guilty on all counts.

Consequently, the court sentenced Abdul Mohammed, Surajo Umar, and Aliyu Abdullahi to death, as stipulated by law.

Following the pronouncement of the sentence, counsel to the defendants, Barrister C.C. Ojun, appealed to the court for leniency. He urged the judge to consider earlier cases where death penalties had been commuted to life imprisonment.

In response, Justice Kuwa maintained that the punishment prescribed by law for the offence was mandatory. He explained that the court lacked the discretion to alter the sentence, adding that any appeal for mercy could only be directed to the Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris, who holds the constitutional authority to grant clemency.