Court Sentence 5 to Death By Hanging for Culpable Homicide in Kogi »

A Kogi State High Court on Monday sentenced five men to death by hanging for mischief by fire, criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide punishable by death. In a judgement presided over by Justice Seidu Hussaini at the Ankpa division of the High Court, the men, Aliyu Amadu Makolo, Yakubu Idaji, Danjuma Yusuf, Mohammed Yusuf and Muhammed Rilwanu (Dikadi), who lived at Akwu Village, Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, were charged before the state High Court in 2020.

Recall it was reported that a lingering disagreement over who among two families in Akwu community will produce the village head, snowballed into full blown attack which led to the death of the victims. Locals said the disagreement over the Onu Akwu stool has been on for many years. However, this tussle was somewhat laid to rest when the then Ata of Igala finally beaded Chief Sylvester Muhammedu Sule on the 29th of December 2019 at his palace in Idah.

The prosecution said on January 29th, 2020 that the men, armed with various weapons including matchets and locally made guns, invaded the community, setting properties on fire and hacking Chief Sylvester Muhammedu Sule to death along with his elder brother, Mr Owoicho Sule Onuh and one other. The lifeless body of Owoicho Sule was thereafter dismembered, tied in a sack bag and dumped in a well.

When the case came up, defendants pleaded not guilty. The trial which started in 2020 went through three different Judges before the fourth Judge, Justice Seidu Husseini finally delivered judgement for this heinous crime commited on the 7th of October, 2024.The prosecution said on January 29th, 2020 that the men, armed with various weapons including matchets and locally made guns, invaded the community, setting properties on fire and hacking Chief Sylvester Muhammedu Sule to death along with his elder brother, Mr Owoicho Sule Onuh and one other. The lifeless body of Owoicho Sule was thereafter dismembered, tied in a sack bag and dumped in a well.

Prosecution counsel, M. A Abaji in his final written address, submitted that the defendants’ plea of not guilty were only a mere denial.

Abaji argued that the defendants had utterly failed to raise a defence as to the commission of all the offences established but rather dwelled on mere denials and technicalities which he said were not material or fatal to the case of the prosecution.

Defence counsel, Isaac Ekpa in his final written addresses, said that the prosecution had not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt to warrant the conviction of the defendants.

However, the trial Justice ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond all reasonable doubts, saying that denying the commission of offence did not amount to not committing it.

Justice Seidu Hussaini said the burden of proof rests on the defense counsel which he failed to achieve.

The presiding judge, Justice Seidu Husseini upheld that “I have full satisfaction with the evidence adduced by the prosecution.

“The prosecution has presented its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“I hereby sentence the five defendants to death by hanging,” the Judge, Justice Seidu Husseini however said.

In the same vein, the Judge also discharged and acquitted one Yakubu Ikoja and Abdulmumuni Sale the 5th and 7th respondents who were accused of being in possession of a generator suspected to have been stollen contrary to Sections 97(1); 336; 337; 97(1); 22 320 of the Kogi State Penal Code, for inability of the prosecution to prove beyond doubt.

The prosecution expressed optimism that other suspects Dr. David Adoyi Abah, a prime suspect and masterminder of the crime, Tahir Abdul AKA Iye paw paw (Youth Leader), Solomon Odawn Ogbo (Vigilante Chairman), Jibrin Okpanachi
Farouk Okpanachi and Francis Bala Abonny who are said to be at large will be apprehended and made to face justice.