26th April, 2017
A Katsina State High Court sitting in Malumfashi on Wednesday sentenced a farmer, Yusuf Abdullahi of Baraunku village in Kankara Local Government, to eight years imprisonment for killing his friend.
Abdullahi, 25, was convicted after he was found guilty of using a stick to hit his friend, Anas Bala, of the same address, on his forehead, leading to his death.
According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred on July 9, 2011.
The convict was charged with culpable homicide not punishable with death, according to section 224 of penal code laws.
In his judgment, Justice Abbas Bawale said that the lead Prosecution Counsel, Mr Sani Danmalam, had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, as required by law.
“The prosecution led four witnesses and tendered four exhibits that comprised the convict’s statements, medical report and photographs of the deceased person.
“Efforts by the defendant to contradict the testimonies and discredit the exhibits failed,” he declared.
The judge, however, recognised the plea for leniency, by the Defense Counsel, Mr Abdurahman Daura.
“The Defence Counsel pleaded for leniency on the grounds that the convict was a first time offender and had no previous criminal records.
“He also informed the court that the convict had a wife and two children in addition to an aged mother. We took that into consideration,” he declared, while sentencing Abdullahi to eight years imprisonment without an option of fine.