Court sentences eleven persons to death by hanging in Niger

A Minna High Court 6 has sentenced 11 people from Anfani community in Lavun Local Government Area to death by hanging after being found guilty of nine count charges brought against them.

The court discharged and aquited 15 others arraigned along with the convicted persons for lack of diligent and proper prosecution against them.
The convicts are Mohammed Mohammed, Baba Mohammed, Mohammed Isah, (aka Madu), Abubakar Saba, Mohammed Adamu Babamini,and Ibrahim Mohammed Emigi. Others include, Haruna Mohammed, Isah Baba Madu, Ndama Sheshi, Isah Mohammed and Mohammed Ndabida.

Justice Maimuna Talatu Abubakar said the substance offence which they are convicted is in pursuance under section 221(A), of the penal code.The penalty provided there is death.

“It is a mandatory provision for where the court really has no discretion. I have heard learned Counsel plead. I appreciate the learned Counsel difficulties given the circumstances most also acknowledge that indeed showed maturity and exemplary conduct during the case as this.

The court in appropriate circumstances can make recommendation, however, the grievous of the crime and the mode it was carried out should not be lost track of it.

“I don’t think in the circumstances there is extenuating basis for wether the court can make recommendation. Consequently, on the first count charge of causing culpable homicide by causing death of the seven deased person I hereby sentenced you to death.

“I directed that each of you be hanged by neck until you are death. May Almighty Allah have mercy on your soul”.

Justice Maimuna Abubakar declared.

“Twenty Five of them were on the 7 October, 2019, charged to the Minna High court by the office of the. Attorney general through the director of public prosecution (DPP), for attacking Gaba community also in Lavun local government over farmlands.
The Bida high court had on 22 , September 2018 delivered judgement in favour of Gaba community over a lingering farm land belonging to Gaba community.

According to the charges the Gaba community were on the farmland along with some surveyors who were on the farmland to demacate the boundaries then the Anfani community launched an offensive attacks on them with dangerous weapons and seven persons were killed on the spots.

Justice Maimuna Talatu Abubakar, while reviewing the case against them she avered that the prosecuting counsel had proved the charges against the eleven convict beyond reasonable doubt “and the first to the eleven convicts are found guilty as charged and they hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”

She further sentenced them to life inmprisonment on anther count charge and 14 years imprisonment without option of fine and the both jailterm should run consecutively.

Justice Maimuna Abubakar found them guilty on culpable homicide punishable under section 221 of the penal code which attract death sentence while they were found guilty on the count 9 which carried life jail as well as conspiracy which attract 14 years jailterm respectively.

However, the Defence Counsel to the convicts, Barrister Lerry Otahagwa had earlier pleaded with the judge to temper Justice with mercy while convicting them.