A Kano State High Court sitting at the Audu Bako Secretariat has sentenced Tahir Tanimu to death by hanging for the murder of Shamsu Yakubu. The conviction follows a trial that saw the prosecution present four witnesses and the defendant testify in his own defence.
Details of the Charge and Trial
Tanimu, alongside Martins Joseph of Unguwar Uku Quarters, Kano, faced a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, abetment, and culpable homicide. The court, presided over by Justice Aisha Mahmud Ibrahim, however, deferred judgment in the case of Joseph Martins, citing his status as a minor at the time the offence was committed.
Justice Ibrahim stated that the matter would await the decision of the Kano State Governor in line with the law. The Kano State Government had arraigned the two defendants on charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
Prosecution and Defence
During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, called four witnesses in support of the case, while the defendants testified in their own defence before the court delivered its judgment.
The court heard that Shamsu Yakubu was killed during a political clash in a community in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State in 2023. The victim was stabbed in the chest and later died from the injuries sustained.
Reaction from the Deceased's Family
Speaking with journalists after the judgment, the deceased's father, Yakubu Shehu, popularly known as Bauchi, said the case took several years to conclude. He commended the State Commissioner of Justice, the state prosecutor, Barrister Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, and the presiding judge for their roles in the case.
He expressed satisfaction with the judgment, saying justice had been served. The case underscores the judicial process in Kano State, particularly in matters involving political violence and the handling of minors in criminal cases.
