Wednesday, June 8, 2022

4 JAILED 10 YRS EACH FOR KILLING WOMAN ACCUSED OF WITCHRAFT



The Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Hon. Justice Nathan Musa, on Tuesday, convicted and sentenced 4 Men to 10 years in prison each without option of fine.


Justice Nathan, convicted the 4 defendants after they were found guilty on 2 count charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.


The Convicts include; Bello Abdu, 42, Maikudi Abdu, 25, Sale Mohammed, 26 and Musa Abubakar, 42, all cattle rearers.


The Convicts caused the death of Amina Mohammed Dauji, in the outskirt of Yola South Local Government Area by dismembering her with cutlasses with an intention of causing her death.


Bello (1st Convict) who is an Elder Brother to Maikudi(2nd Convict), hired 2 other Convicts of Bagalchi village in Girei LGA at the sum N20, 000 who matchted the women to death. 


Late Amina was accused by Bello as the one who was responsible for the death of his beloved Wife, Tobedo and his Mother respectively, saying that the Deceased mentioned the name of Amina as a witch who was attacking them in their dream.  


NEWS PLATFORM understands that it was as result of the deaths of the women that Bello strongly believed that it was Late Amina who bewitched both of them.


In his extra judicial confessional statement admitted in evidence, the 1st Convict narrated that they had a meeting with his younger brother and 2 other Convicts on the 27th July, 2016 and perfected their plan on how to end the Woman's life.


According to him, during their meeting which was held at Ngurore market, Sale and Musa agreed to go and kill the woman; however, demanded the sum of N20, 000, which he agreed to pay as soon as they kill her.


After the arrangement, the hit men who armed themselves with cutlasses, stormed the residence of the Deceased by night along side Maikudi, who accompanied them to show them her house.


NEWS PLATFORM learnt that duo entered the room of Late Amina on the 28th July, 2016 and hit her on her forehead and stomarch with their cutlasses which led to her death. 


It was the daughter of Late Amina who ran to her father and Husband of the Deceased, Mohammed Dauji, where she told him that some people have killed her mother.


After receiving the news, Mohammed Dauji, who suddenly came out of his room, was able to identify Maikudi, in amongst the Convicts he met in his compound where he pursued them but could not catch anyone aside the cutlass which felt and picked. 


Mohammed Dauji, returned back and met his wife lifeless in a pool of blood as a result of which he reported the matter which led to the arrest of the Convicts.


During trials, the Prosecution assembled 6 Witnesses, tendered statements of the Convicts, cutlass which were all admitted in evidence, while the Defendants testified for themselves as DW1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively.


But before the sentence, the Convicts who still denied killing the woman, pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy, informing the the Judge that they have wives, many children and other dependants to take care off.


Delivering his judgement, Hon. Justice Nathan Musa, said "having heard the allocutus plea coming from the Convicts and having been informed by the Prosecution that they were all first time offenders, I shall temper justice with mercy by sentencing them to 10 years imprisonment without option of fine".


He declared that from the statements of the Convicts to the Police, it has proved that the 1st and 2nd Convicts hired the 3rd and 4th Convicts to go and kill the Deceased.


Reacting on the judgement, Counsel to the Prosecution, A. S. Digil (Senior State Counsel 2), appreciated the Court for what he described as sound judgement.






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