A Gombe State High Court has sentenced the District Head of Bangunji, Sulei Yerima, alongside Shedrack Kwan, to death by hanging for their roles in the killing of a resident of Shongom Local Government Area.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Abdulsalam Mohammad, on Tuesday at High Court No. 8 in Gombe, bringing to a close a long-running trial linked to a violent incident that occurred in 2017.
In the same judgement, the court freed three other defendants; Hamisu Ingila, Shanono Sarkin Pawa and Joseph Sarkin-Noma, after finding that the prosecution failed to establish their involvement in the crime.
According to court records, the defendants were charged with criminal conspiracy, abetment, causing grievous harm and culpable homicide, offences punishable under Sections 97, 85, 241 and 221 of the Penal Code Law.
The prosecution told the court that on August 17, 2017, at Biwula village near Bangunji, the convicted persons attacked Shu’aibu Sale Galadima, who later died from injuries sustained during the assault. Prosecutors alleged that the act was carried out following the instigation of Shedrack Aliyu Kwan, while another suspect, Joshua Michael, remains at large.
State counsel, Barrister Haruna Yelma, informed the court that the offences attracted severe penalties under the law, insisting that the prosecution had assembled “clear, credible and consistent evidence” against the accused persons.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty at the commencement of trial.
During proceedings, the prosecution presented 10 witnesses and tendered several exhibits, while defence counsel, Barrister Herbert Nnwoye, cross-examined the witnesses and called six witnesses in defence.
Delivering judgement, Justice Mohammad said the court had “carefully evaluated the five-count charge, scrutinised the testimonies of witnesses from both sides and examined all exhibits placed before it.”
“The evidence adduced by the prosecution against Sulei Yerima and Shedrack Kwan is credible, cogent and convincing,” the judge held, adding that the prosecution proved its case against them beyond reasonable doubt.
However, the court noted that the evidence against the other three defendants was weak. “Their names were mentioned without substantive proof linking them directly to the commission of the offence,” Justice Mohammad said, before discharging and acquitting them.
Consequently, the court found Sulei Yerima and Shedrack Kwan guilty on all counts and sentenced them to death by hanging, in line with the provisions of the law.
