A Minna High Court has convicted and sentenced five persons to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of High Court No. 4, who held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendants.
The convicts, identified as Mikisal Ibrahim, Abubakar Ibrahim, Anthony Ibrahim, Aliyu Mohammed, and Murtala Junaidu, all residents of Minna, were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and causing grievous hurt.
They were prosecuted by the Attorney General of Niger State through Mohammed Aliyu Kutigi, Esq., under sections 1(1) and 2(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, Section 247 of the Penal Code Law, and Cap 94 Laws of Niger State.
According to the prosecution, the convicts, on July 9, 2023, at about 2:15 a.m., stormed the residence of Alhaji Abdulkareem Abdullahi, owner of Talakawa Pharmacy building, in the Tunga area of Minna.
Armed with dangerous weapons, including machetes, cutlasses, and cudgels, they allegedly robbed him of cash amounting to N250,000 and other valuables.
The prosecution further told the court that the robbery operation lasted for more than three hours, during which the attackers held members of the victim’s household hostage.
At the end of the operation, they dispossessed the family of four mobile phones, an HP laptop belonging to the victim’s daughters, and jewellery.
In the course of the trial, four witnesses testified for the prosecution.
They included investigating police officers from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) and the victim’s daughters, who narrated their ordeal before the court.
Delivering a judgment that lasted over two hours, Justice Mohammed said he had carefully examined all the evidence, exhibits, testimonies of witnesses, and statements made by the defendants before the police.
The judge held that all the issues raised by the prosecuting counsel had been resolved in favour of the prosecution and against the defendants.
“Having perused all the evidence, testimonies and witness accounts, including the statements of the defendants before the police, the issues raised are hereby resolved in favour of the prosecution and against the defendants,” he ruled.
Justice Mohammed further stated that the prosecution, led by Mohammed Aliyu Kutigi, had established the offences against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt and consequently found them guilty on all three counts.
“Having resolved the issues raised against the defendants, they are hereby convicted accordingly and sentenced to death by hanging until they are certified dead,” the judge declared.
