A High Court in Maiduguri has delivered a death sentence to an eighteen-year-old herdsman found guilty of killing a teenager during a violent confrontation in Borno State.
Court Finds Herdsman Guilty of Culpable Homicide
Justice Mohammed Maina of the Borno State High Court ruled that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The convict, Adamu Mohammed, was found guilty of culpable homicide for striking Adamu Ali, aged nineteen, on the head with a cutlass.
The fatal incident occurred on January 19, 2025, in the bush near Auno, located within the Konduga Local Government Area. Following the attack, the victim was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri, where he was confirmed dead.
Legal Proceedings and Rejected Defence
Court records revealed a significant legal detail: although Adamu Mohammed initially pleaded guilty, the presiding judge entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. This procedural step is mandated by law because the charge carries the potential death penalty, ensuring a full trial.
The prosecution built its case with two witnesses and submitted key exhibits, which included the defendant's extra-judicial statements and a medical report. In his statements, Mohammed admitted to engaging in a cutlass fight with the victim.
The defence team argued that Mohammed acted in self-defence. However, Justice Maina firmly rejected this claim. The judge pointed out inconsistencies in the defendant's account and noted a critical absence of evidence showing that Mohammed was unable to retreat or avoid delivering the fatal blow.
Judgment and Sentencing
In his final ruling, Justice Maina declared that the force used was excessive and unjustified. He concluded that Mohammed's actions satisfied all the legal elements of culpable homicide punishable by death, as defined under Section 191(a) of the Borno State Penal Code Law of 2023.
Consequently, the court imposed the maximum sentence. Adamu Mohammed was sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of Adamu Ali.
This verdict underscores the judiciary's stance on violent crimes in the region, emphasizing accountability and the application of the law regardless of the circumstances surrounding communal clashes.
