Attorney General Danladi says verdict will deter violent crimes as Chief Judge affirms justice without fear or favour
By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku
Lafia
A High Court of Justice in Nasarawa State has sentenced an armed robbery convict, Saidu Idi, to death by hanging over the killing of Hardo Adamu Buli, a resident of Kokona Local Government Area, in a crime committed in 2015.
The judgment was delivered by the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Mohammed Usman, who found the defendant guilty of armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable with death, after the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The Nasarawa State Government was represented in court by the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Isaac Danladi, who personally appeared and led the prosecution team on behalf of the state.
He was assisted by two state counsels, Barrister Zanab S. Nagogo and Barrister P. N. Mugallah.
Speaking shortly after the ruling, Barrister Danladi said the case, which had spanned over a decade, involved charges of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and culpable homicide under the relevant laws of the federation.
According to him, the court discharged the defendant on the charge of criminal conspiracy but convicted him on the remaining counts.
“At the end of the proceedings, the defendant was discharged on the conspiracy charge but found guilty of armed robbery and culpable homicide. He was accordingly sentenced to death by hanging,” Danladi stated.
The Attorney General described the judgment as a clear demonstration that justice can be served without fear or favour, noting that the verdict would serve as a strong deterrent to violent crimes across Nasarawa State.
He explained that the victim, Hardo Adamu Buli, was attacked during a robbery operation in Kokona Local Government Area, an incident the court found to have been clearly established by evidence during the trial.
In her ruling, Justice Aisha Mohammed Usman held that the prosecution successfully proved that Saidu Idi was responsible for the unlawful killing of the deceased, stressing that the sentence imposed was in line with the provisions of the applicable criminal laws in Nasarawa State.
The judgment brings to a close a long-standing criminal case dating back to 2015 and has been widely viewed as a strong signal of the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability for violent crimes.
The Nasarawa State Government reiterated its resolve to protect lives and property, warning that individuals involved in armed robbery and related offences would continue to face the full weight of the law.
