LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Adamawa State High Court has sentenced a middle-aged man, Festus Stephen, to death by hanging for killing his friend, Mohammed Sani, over a N30,000 debt.
The court established that Festus killed Mohammed Sani, better known as Jega, during an argument over the N30,000 that Jega was owing him.
According to the prosecutor, Festus, of Sabon Pegi bye-pass in Yola town, Yola South LGA, caused the death of Jega on the 19 October, 2018, at Sabon Pegi by hitting him several times.
Festus had reportedly given Jega a loan of N30,000, but Jega could not pay it back at the agreed time.
While they were in the room on that fateful day, Festus demanded his money, but Jega told him he would pay it back the following week.
The exchange of words, however, degenerated to the point when both friends sought for weapons to defend themselves, as they had been under the influence of codeine and Indian hemp.
The prosecution team further noted that the deceased attempted to stab the convict with a knife beneath the bed, but the convict swiftly took up a cutlass and macheted him twice on the head, causing the victim to collapse in his pool of blood and died.
The convict hurriedly picked up a packet of cigarette, locked the door and fled to Mubi where he committed another murder and is currently standing another trial for alleged culpable homicide before Justice Danladi Muhammed led High Court.
Delivering judgement on the case, the presiding judge, Justice Bulila Ladokiya Ikharo, said: “It is very clear that the defendant had intention of killing the deceased. He used a cutlass and stabbed the deceased twice on the head, a very vital part of the body. As if that was not enough, he locked him up in the room in his pool and left.
“On the whole, I hereby find and hold that the prosecution had proved its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt and I so convict the defendant as charged.
“I wish I could do otherwise considering the fact that the convict is a young man, but my hands are tied. The provision of Section 192 (a) of the Penal Code is mandatory and must be carried out.”
