A Gombe State High Court has sentenced two men, Buhari Sule and Muktari Ali Hilami, to death by hanging for armed robbery and the murder of a 35-year-old man.
Justice Muhammad-Auwal Haruna, who presided over the case at Court No. 5 on Wednesday, found the defendants guilty of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.
The case stemmed from the September 18, 2025, attack on Murtala Rabi’u at Garin Galadima village, near Pindiga in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
According to the prosecution, Sule and Hilami conspired and armed themselves with dangerous weapons, including sticks and hoes, before attacking Rabi’u.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants robbed the deceased of an Itel keypad phone without a SIM card and N7,400 in cash.
The court also heard that the defendants inflicted severe injuries on Rabi’u, which led to his death, before dumping his body in a maize farm.
Prosecution presents evidence
Presenting the case, the state counsel, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said the offences contravened Sections 97, 297 and 221 of the Penal Code Law.
“The defendants agreed among themselves at Garin Galadima village, armed themselves with dangerous weapons and attacked the deceased, Murtala Rabi’u,” Ibrahim told the court.
He said the defendants took the deceased’s phone and N7,400, which they allegedly shared after dumping his body in the maize farm.
The charges were read and explained to the defendants, but they pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses, who testified before the court and were cross-examined by defence counsel, Dan Mamman.
The defence subsequently called one witness, who was also cross-examined by the prosecution.
Judge finds prosecution proved case
In his judgment, Justice Haruna said the court carefully considered the evidence presented by both sides.
“The court has gone through all the charges brought by the prosecution, the evidence of the witnesses and the testimony presented by the defence,” the judge said.
He held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt, particularly relying on the testimony of the first prosecution witness.
“The prosecution has established its case and proved the allegations against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt,” Haruna ruled.
The judge added that the defendants had “failed to establish their defence against the charges brought against them.”
The court consequently convicted Sule and Hilami of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.
Justice Haruna sentenced both men to death by hanging, ordering that they be “hanged by the neck until they are dead.”