Minna court sentences five to death by hanging for armed robbery

A Minna High Court has found five men guilty of armed robbery and sentenced them to death by hanging.

The judgment was handed down by Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of High Court No. 4. He said the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The defendants—Mikisal Ibrahim, Abubakar Ibrahim, Anthony Ibrahim, Aliyu Mohammed, and Murtala Junaidu—are all residents of Minna. They were charged with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and causing grievous hurt.

The case was brought 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, the Penal Code, Section 247, and Cap 94 of the Laws of Niger State.

According to the prosecution, on 9 July 2023 at about 2:15 a.m., the men stormed the house of Alhaji Abdulkareem Abdullahi, owner of the Talakawa Pharmacy building in the Tunga area of Minna. They entered armed with machetes, cutlasses and cudgels and allegedly stole N250,000 in cash and other valuables.

The robbery is said to have lasted more than three hours, during which the attackers held members of the victim’s household hostage. By the end of the operation, they took four mobile phones, an HP laptop belonging to the victim’s daughters, and jewellery.

Four witnesses testified for the prosecution, including police officers from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) and the victim’s daughters, who recounted their experience in court.

Justice Mohammed delivered a judgment that lasted over two hours. He stated that he had carefully examined all evidence, exhibits, witness testimonies and the defendants’ statements made to police.

“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,” the judge said.

He added that the prosecution, led by Mohammed Aliyu Kutigi, had established the offences beyond reasonable doubt and found the defendants 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.