A Kebbi State High Court 7, sitting in Birnin Kebbi, has sentenced three men to death for armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.
The three convicts identified as Abdul Mohammed, Surajo Umar, and Aliyu Abdullahi were arraigned on November 17, 2023.
They stood trial on nine counts of charges for armed robbery and criminal conspiracy, punishable under sections 1(2)(a), 60(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 2004, and section 304 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law 2021.
Farida Muhammad, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions at the Kebbi State Ministry of Justice, led the prosecution team, presenting eight witnesses, including victims Hamza Dandare, a retired banker, Hon. Aminu Garba Dandiga, a former Commissioner, and Aisha Sahabi Tamba, amongst others.
The court received exhibits, including a cutlass, a rubber shoe, a plasma TV, two million Eight Hundred and fifty thousand naira (N2,850,000.00), and a black cap, as well as the defendants’ confessional statements in Hausa and English.
Justice Hassan Shehu Kuwa, who presided over the case, stated, “The testimonies of PW 1, 3, 6, and 8 are good, credible, and corroborated, and it was not contradicted or challenged by the defence.”
PW 1, Hamza Dandare, identified the first accused person, Abdul Mohammed, also known as Audu Dukku, as one of the robbers who attacked him at his residence opposite Mopol Barracks, Badariya area, Birnin Kebbi, stealing cash, mobile phones, dollar currency, and other valuables.
The court noted that the defendants did not call or present any defence witnesses or exhibits, but only stood to defend themselves before the court. During their arraignment, all three defendants pleaded not guilty and denied all the counts charged.
The court found that the prosecution had discharged its duty in proving all the ingredients required to prove the offence of armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.
The court found the defendants guilty of committing armed robbery and criminal conspiracy as charged, and the defendants are hereby convicted accordingly.
The court went further to sentence them to d3ath for committing the offence of armed robbery and criminal conspiracy, which was proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the prosecution.
The defence counsel, C.C. Ojun, pleaded for leniency after his clients were found guilty and convicted as charged, citing previous judgments that reduced sentences from death to life imprisonment or prison terms.
However, the court ruled that it was bound by law to pass the mandatory sentence, but would only write to the Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris, who is conferred with the powers to consider such a plea.
