A High Court in Nasarawa State has sentenced an armed robbery convict, Saidu Idi, to death by hanging for the murder of Hardo Adamu Buli, a resident of Kokona Local Government Area, in a crime committed in 2015.
The sentence was pronounced by the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Mohammed Usman, after the court found the defendant guilty of armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable by death.
Speaking after the judgment, the Nasarawa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaac Danladi, said the long-running case involved charges of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and culpable homicide under existing laws.
According to Danladi, the court cleared the convict of the conspiracy charge but convicted him on the other counts.
“At the end of the proceedings, judgment was delivered. While the defendant was discharged on the conspiracy charge, he was found guilty of armed robbery and culpable homicide and consequently sentenced to death by hanging,” the Attorney General said.
He described the verdict as proof that justice can be delivered impartially, adding that it would serve as a strong warning to those involved in violent crimes across the state.
Danladi explained that Hardo Adamu Buli was attacked during a robbery operation in Kokona Local Government Area.
“The victim was first shot in the navel before he was dispossessed of his valuables and some amount of money,” he said, noting that evidence before the court showed the killing occurred before the robbery was carried out.
In her ruling, Justice Aisha Mohammed Usman held that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, confirming that Saidu Idi was responsible for the unlawful killing.
The court stated that the sentence aligned with the provisions of the applicable criminal laws in Nasarawa State.
The judgment concludes a criminal case that began in 2015 and has been widely viewed as a firm signal of the judiciary’s commitment to enforcing the rule of law and ensuring accountability for violent crimes.
The Nasarawa State Government also reaffirmed its resolve to protect lives and property, warning that those involved in armed robbery and related offences would face the full consequences of the law.