A Bauchi State High Court has sentenced Usman Abdullahi to death by hanging for the murder of Zaidu Adamu Kofar Dumi following an argument over a phone charger.
The sentence, handed down by Judge Sa'ad Muhammad Sambuwal of High Court No. 9, found Abdullahi guilty of grievous harm and culpable homicide, offenses contrary to articles 239 and 221 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution, led by Lawyer Abubakar Ahmed Kobi of the State Ministry of Justice, informed the court that on May 12, 2021, the accused had a disagreement with Zaidu Adamu and his friend, Ziya'u Abdulhadi, over a phone charger. .
During the altercation, Abdullahi is said to have used a knife to stab Zaidu several times.
Zaidu was rushed to Bauchi Specialist Hospital where medical staff declared him dead.
The trial began on December 30, 2021, and the prosecution charged the defendant with two counts: causing serious injury and manslaughter. The court heard the victim was stabbed in the stomach, neck and other parts of the body.
Defense counsel Advocate Naziru Umar presented two witnesses and sought leniency on behalf of his client.
After reviewing the submissions of both parties, Judge Sambuwal ruled: “I hereby convict Usman Abdullahi of the crime of culpable homicide punishable by death. You will be hanged by the neck until you die, in accordance with article 221 of the Penal Code.
“For the crime of serious harm, he is sentenced to five years of correctional service, as stipulated in article 239 of the Penal Code.”