Kano Court Sentences Man to Death for 2013 Murder

The Kano State High Court, sitting at Bompai, has sentenced Mustapha Hamza, popularly known as Usha, to death by hanging for the murder of Abubakar Abba Wajila in Dambazau community in 2013.

Justice Nasiru Saminu, who presided over the case, convicted Mustapha after the court found sufficient evidence linking him to the murder.

The defendant was charged under Section 221 of the Kano State Penal Code for allegedly conspiring with one Janare and other youths to kill Wajila.

Janare had earlier been convicted and sentenced to death in 2018, while Mustapha reportedly fled before the police eventually arrested him.

During the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses to establish its case against the defendant.

Delivering judgment, Justice Saminu said the court was satisfied with the evidence presented by the prosecution and consequently sentenced Mustapha to death by hanging.

However, defence counsel, Barrister Abdul Ibrahim Umar, said the legal team would study the judgment to determine whether to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

He added that the court had granted the convict 90 days to appeal the judgment if he was dissatisfied with the ruling.