Court Sentences Man to Death by Hanging Over Politically Motivated Murder

• A Kano High Court has sentenced a 37-year-old man to death by hanging for stabbing a man to death during a politically motivated attack.

A Kano State High Court has sentenced a 37-year-old man, Tahir Tanimu, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of killing one Shamsu Yakubu during a politically motivated attack.

Justice Aisha Mahmoud delivered the judgment on Monday, ruling that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. The court convicted Tanimu alongside Martins Joseph on charges of criminal conspiracy, abetment and culpable homicide.

The judge sentenced Tanimu to death by hanging for culpable homicide.

However, the court ruled differently for Joseph after confirming that he was 15 years old at the time the offence was committed. Justice Mahmoud said his fate would be left to the discretion of the Kano State Governor in line with the law governing juvenile offenders.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on March 1, 2019, in Unguwa Uku Quarters, Kano.

The prosecution told the court that one Aminu Malan, who remains at large, allegedly incited Tanimu, Joseph and seven other suspects still on the run to attack the deceased at his residence following a disagreement over politics.

During the attack, Tanimu reportedly stabbed Yakubu in the chest with a sharp knife, inflicting injuries that led to his death.

To support its case, the prosecution presented four witnesses before the court and argued that the defendants’ actions violated Sections 97, 85 and 221 of the Penal Code.

Although both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, the court found the evidence sufficient to convict them.

Defence counsel Sani Idris pleaded with the court to show mercy to the defendants, but the request was rejected as the court imposed the death sentence on Tanimu while reserving Joseph’s fate for the governor’s decision.