GOMBE — A Gombe State High Court has sentenced three men to death by hanging for murder in connection with the 2022 killing of one Ibrahim Yahaya. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, brings closure to a high-profile case that shocked residents of the Gombe metropolis.
Presiding over the trial, Justice Haruna Kereng of High Court 3 found the defendants—Dauda Mohammed Abubakar (also known as Agenda), Kabiru Abubakar (Gwarei), and Ibrahim Suleiman—guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, which is punishable by death under Nigerian law.
Justice Kereng ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, citing overwhelming evidence that linked the three men to the brutal assault and murder of Yahaya on April 22, 2022. The crime took place in Herwagana Quarters, located in the Gombe Local Government Area, and involved multiple victims.
Court Delivers Verdict: Hanging for Murder
According to the prosecution, the trio, armed with cutlasses, knives, and daggers, ambushed the victim and inflicted fatal injuries. Two other individuals—Ahmed Abubakar and Muhammad Ahmed Lawan—also sustained serious wounds during the same incident, which occurred in the Dawaki Quarters nearby.
“The evidence presented was overwhelming and credible,” Justice Kereng said in his ruling. “The prosecution has established without a shred of doubt that the defendants acted in concert and deliberately took the life of the deceased.”
The three men were first arraigned on November 17, 2022, and faced three counts, including:
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Criminal Conspiracy under Section 97 of the Penal Code
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Culpable Homicide Punishable by Death under Section 221
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An additional count that was later struck out by the court
While the court dismissed the third count, the remaining two charges stood, resulting in a death sentence by hanging for murder.
Justice Kereng made it clear that Nigerian law provides no discretion in capital punishment cases, stating that any plea for leniency would not be considered.
“The sentence for culpable homicide under Section 221 is mandatory,” he said. “Therefore, this court is not empowered to reduce or alter the punishment. For that reason, I will not entertain any plea for leniency or allocutus from the convicts.”
As he delivered the sentence, he stated solemnly:
“Each and all of you shall be hanged by the neck until you are pronounced and certified dead by a medical practitioner.”
The courtroom was tense and emotionally charged as the verdict was read, marking the conclusion of a nearly three-year legal battle. The case has been followed closely by the public, especially residents of the Gombe metropolis, where the crime occurred.
Family members of the deceased expressed a mix of sorrow and relief, stating that justice had finally been served, although nothing could bring their loved one back.
Legal experts say the case sets a strong precedent and reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to combating violent crime through the application of existing legal frameworks.
This latest ruling adds to a series of capital punishment cases across Nigeria where hanging for murder has been upheld as the ultimate penalty for homicide. While some human rights groups continue to campaign for the abolition of the death penalty, Nigerian law still mandates execution in cases involving premeditated murder, especially when aggravating circumstances are present.
In this case, the deliberate use of deadly weapons, the premeditation, and the presence of multiple victims were all factors that led the court to apply the maximum sentence.
Although executions are not always promptly carried out in Nigeria—often delayed by appeals or executive intervention—the death sentence by hanging remains a potent legal tool in the hands of the judiciary.
As Nigeria continues to confront rising rates of violent crime in some regions, cases like this reignite debates around the effectiveness, morality, and implementation of capital punishment.
For now, the Gombe High Court’s ruling sends a clear message: those who take lives will be held accountable, and under Nigerian law, hanging for murder remains a valid and enforceable sentence.
The three convicted men are expected to be transferred to a maximum-security facility while awaiting further legal procedures, including the possibility of an appeal.
Source- Punchng
