Gombe High Court Jails Five Men for Exhuming Corpse and Removing Eyes for Ritual Purposes
A High Court in Gombe State has delivered a stern judgment, sentencing five men to various prison terms for the gruesome act of exhuming a corpse and removing its eyes, allegedly for ritual purposes. The court, presided over by Justice Abdulsalam Mohammed of Gombe State High Court No. 8, handed down the sentences on Friday, March 13, 2026, following the defendants' guilty pleas to some of the charges against them.
Defendants and Charges
The convicted individuals are Mohammed Isah, also known as Chindo; Kawuni Sarki; Manu Saleh; Umar Jibrin, alias Daddy; and Adamu Nasiru, all residents of Gadam village in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State. A sixth defendant, Abdullahi Umar Dauda, was also arraigned in connection with the case.
The prosecution, led by state counsel Ahmed Yakubu Gombe, presented a 10-count charge that included criminal conspiracy, attempt to commit an offence, causing indignity to a corpse, unlawful entry into a graveyard, theft, destruction of public property, membership of an unlawful society, use of unlawful charms, and unlawful possession of a human head.
Details of the Offence
According to the prosecutor, the offences occurred on September 11, 2025, at the Gadam Muslim graveyard in Kwami Local Government Area. The defendants conspired with two other suspects, Aliyu Baka and Reuben, who remain at large, to exhume the grave of a deceased person identified as Malam Manu Wanzam.
"They jointly exhumed the grave of the late Malam Manu Wanzam, unwrapped the burial shroud and brought out the fresh corpse. The defendants then removed the two eyes from the corpse," Yakubu told the court. He added that one of the fleeing suspects took the plucked eyes, allegedly for ritual purposes.
The prosecutor further stated that the defendants attempted to exhume another grave in the same cemetery on the same day, highlighting the severity of their actions. These offences are punishable under Sections 96, 95, 218, 213, 286, 335, 306, 97A, 97B, 216, and 219 of the Penal Code Law.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
During the proceedings, the defendants pleaded guilty to some charges after the court interpreter explained them. The prosecution urged the court to summarily try them on the admitted counts, citing Sections 335(2) and 355(2) of the Gombe State Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
In his judgment, Justice Abdulsalam Mohammed convicted and sentenced the defendants accordingly. The court sentenced Mohammed Isah, Kawuni Sarki, Manu Saleh, Umar Jibrin, and Adamu Nasiru to six months' imprisonment under Section 218 of the Penal Code for causing indignity to a corpse. They also received one year's imprisonment each on additional counts.
On the charge of theft, Mohammed Isah, Kawuni Sarki, and Adamu Nasiru were convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonment each. Justice Mohammed ordered that all sentences run consecutively, resulting in the following total prison terms:
- Mohammed Isah: five years' imprisonment
- Manu Saleh: two years and six months' imprisonment
- Umar Jibrin: two years and six months' imprisonment
- Adamu Nasiru: four years and six months' imprisonment
"Having pleaded guilty to some of the charges, the defendants are hereby convicted and sentenced as stated by the court," the judge ruled. The court also ordered that the trial continue on the remaining counts against the defendants, with the case adjourned to April 16, 2026, for further hearing.
This case underscores the legal consequences of such heinous acts in Gombe State, serving as a deterrent against ritual-related crimes and violations of burial sanctity.
