A Kano State High Court sitting in Bompai has convicted and sentenced two young men to 14 years’ imprisonment for culpable homicide, following the conclusion of a long-running trial.
The judgment was delivered on Monday, April 27, 2026, by Justice Hadiza Sulaiman, who presided over the case.
The defendants, Nafi’u Garba and Abdulmajeed Garba, both residents of Dakata in Nasarawa Local Government Area, were arraigned by the Kano State Government on charges of criminal conspiracy and homicide.
According to the prosecution, the incident dates back to March 16, 2019, when a dispute arose between the deceased, identified as Surajo, and Nafi’u Garba over a marriage-related issue.
The situation reportedly escalated after the deceased slapped Nafi’u, prompting him to mobilise a group of youths.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants, alongside others, attacked the victim, causing injuries that eventually led to his death.
During the trial, the prosecuting counsel, Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, called three witnesses whose testimonies were accepted by the court as credible and convincing. The defendants denied the allegations and presented their defence, but the court found their arguments insufficient.
Justice Sulaiman held that the prosecution had proven the charges of conspiracy and culpable homicide beyond reasonable doubt.
However, in delivering judgment, the court took into account the circumstances of the case, including the fact that the defendants were reportedly about 16 years old at the time of the incident.
The judge also observed that the killing resulted from a fight rather than a premeditated act. Based on these considerations, the court amended the charge from Section 221 to Section 224 of the Penal Code.
Following this review, the court sentenced both defendants to 14 years in a correctional facility, without the option of a fine.
