A 24-year-old man, Dahiru Yusuf Abbah, has been sentenced to death by hanging by a High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, for killing his father, Dahiru Yusuf.
Justice M.M. Gwatana handed down the verdict on Monday after finding Abbah guilty of culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Kogi State Penal Code, 2019.
The court held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant inflicted the injuries that eventually led to his father’s death. The incident occurred on October 5, 2024, in the Sarkin-Noma area of Lokoja.
According to the prosecution, led by M. Abaji, Abbah stabbed his father in the chest and back during the attack. The victim was subsequently taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on October 9, 2024, from injuries sustained in the incident.
Nine witnesses testified for the prosecution during the trial, including the deceased’s wife, Jumai Dahiru, and two of the defendant’s siblings, Nafisat and Auwwal Dahiru. The prosecution also tendered nine exhibits, including a blood-stained shirt belonging to the defendant, a knife, the deceased’s blood sample and digital forensic evidence.
Although none of the witnesses directly saw Abbah stab his father, Justice Gwatana said the evidence presented by the prosecution, particularly the exhibits and testimonies of key witnesses, established a strong circumstantial case against him.
The judge also dismissed the defendant’s claim relating to inheritance, noting that the matter before the court was a criminal charge rather than a dispute over property. The court further rejected the testimony of an Islamic cleric called by the defence, while persons named as potential alibi witnesses failed to appear.
Abbah was originally charged with culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy.
However, Justice Gwatana discharged and acquitted him on the conspiracy count for lack of sufficient evidence, while convicting him for culpable homicide and imposing the death sentence.
His lawyers, Mohammed S. Inuwa and Mohammed S. Maihaja, said they would appeal the verdict, arguing that the court relied on evidence they considered inadmissible.
Meanwhile, Yusuf Bala, head of the deceased’s family, welcomed the judgement, saying the family sought justice rather than revenge.
