A Kano State High Court has delivered a landmark judgment, sentencing four individuals to death by hanging for the brutal murder of a local mechanic, Rilwanu Ilyasu. The verdict brings a measure of closure to a case that has spanned nearly a decade.
The Fatal Attack and Motive
The court found that on April 13, 2016, the convicts—Abubakar Sadiq (alias Alhaji Sallari), Abdulmajid Jibrin, Nasiru Sani, and Yusuf Sani—armed themselves with an axe and other weapons. They proceeded to the residence of the victim, popularly known as Nanu, in the Farawa Layout of Kano.
According to the prosecution led by Barrister Safiya Yalwati Yahaya, the assailants believed that Ilyasu had reported one of them to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). This report allegedly led to an arrest and the seizure of hard drugs and the sum of N27,000. In a violent act of retaliation, the group attacked Ilyasu, who later succumbed to the injuries he sustained.
The Legal Proceedings and Evidence
The prosecution built a strong case, presenting eight witnesses and several exhibits during the trial. A key piece of evidence was the axe used in the attack. The convicts were tried on charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, offences contrary to Sections 97 and 221(b) of the Penal Code.
After meticulously reviewing the evidence, the presiding judge found the four men guilty on all counts. The court subsequently handed down the maximum sentence of death by hanging. The judge also noted that two other suspects, Nura Farin Boss and Dan Bayo, remain at large.
A Statement on Justice and the Rule of Law
In a statement released on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Kano State Ministry of Justice affirmed that the judgment reflects its unwavering commitment to ensuring justice is served. The statement aligned the ruling with the vision of the administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, to promote fairness, accountability, and the rule of law under the leadership of the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru.
This case underscores the Nigerian judiciary's resolve to address violent crime and deliver justice for victims and their families, reinforcing the legal consequences for such grave acts.
