Court sentences two to 14 years imprisonment for homicide in Kano
Kano State Court Sentences Two Men for Culpable Homicide
KANO, Nigeria — A High Court in Kano State has sentenced two young men to 14 years in prison for culpable homicide after a trial concluded on April 27, 2026.
Justice Hadiza Sulaiman presided over the proceedings, during which the defendants, Nafi’u Garba and Abdulmajeed Garba, both residents of Dakata in Nasarawa Local Government Area, faced charges of criminal conspiracy and homicide.
The prosecution detailed an incident on March 16, 2019, when a confrontation arose between Garba and the deceased, identified as Surajo, over a marriage-related dispute. The situation escalated after Surajo allegedly slapped Nafi’u, prompting him to enlist a group of youths to confront Surajo. The prosecution contended that the subsequent attack resulted in Surajo’s fatal injuries.
During the trial, prosecuting counsel Lamido Abba Soron Dinki presented three witnesses, whose testimony was deemed credible by the court. The defendants denied the charges and offered their defense, which the court rejected.
Justice Sulaiman found that the prosecution had established evidence of conspiracy and culpable homicide. However, considering the defendants’ ages, reportedly around 16 at the time of the incident, the court amended the charge from Section 221 to Section 224 of the Penal Code. The judge emphasized that the killing stemmed from a fight rather than a premeditated act, which influenced the decision to reduce the charge.
As a result, the court sentenced both men to 14 years in a correctional facility, with no option for a fine.
