A 22-Year-Old Farmer Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Killing Herder In Adamawa State

Kabiru Zelani has been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for stabbing a herder, Ndula Ardo Ali, to death. After standing trial for more than 5years.

Justice Fatimah Tafida Ahmed of High Court No. 4, sitting in Jimeta Yola, Adamawa state on Monday, convicted Zelina after he was tried and found guilty for culpable homicide punishable with death contrary to section 221(b) of the state penal code law.

Hon. Justice Fatima stated that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that “the court hereby sentences you, KabiruZelinai, to death by hanging until certified death by a Medical Doctor”.

In his extra-judicial confessional statement tendered in court by the prosecution, Zelani, a Leme village resident of Gombi Local Government Area, was said to have stabbed Ali to death during a fight over the destruction of his rice farm by the herder.

Zelani narrated that while he was working on his farm on the 18th October 2015, the deceased came and put his animals into his farm and that when he saw that the animals were destroying his crops, he asked the herder the reason why he was doing so and that he became provoked.

He further stated that they started exchanging words during which the herder used his cutlass and cut him on his right hand where he sustained a serious injury, and that he also pulled out his knife and tried to stab him, but that he (Kabiru) fell the herder on the ground.

He added that the deceased tried to kill him first with the knife while on the ground, but that he overpowered him where he collected the knife and stabbed him on the stomach self-defense which led to his death.

He further stated that he left the deceased in his pool of blood and reported himself to one Jauro Balbol, where he was arrested in connection to the crime.

Counsel to the prosecution, M. A. Umar (Senior State Counsel 2) who appeared alongside, A. H. Raji (SS2,) and counsel to the defendant, F. A. Ogbe, Chief Legal Aid Officer, Nigeria Legal Aid Council, appreciated the court for the judgment.