Two to die by hanging for armed robbery in Gombe

Two men, Buhari Sule and Mukhtari Ali Hilami, who stood trial before Gombe State High Court No. 5, have been sentenced to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of a 35-year-old man, Murtala Rabi’u.

The judgment and sentencing were delivered by the Court, presided over by Justice Muhammad Auwal Haruna, who also convicted the two men of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery over their involvement in the attack on the deceased at Garin Galadima village, near Pindiga in Akko Local Government Area of the State.

During the trial, the Prosecution told the Court that the incident occurred on September 18, 2025, at about 4 pm, when the defendants allegedly conspired and armed themselves with dangerous weapons, including sticks and hoes, while attacking late Rabi’u.

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They were also accused of dispossessing the deceased of an Itel keypad mobile phone without a SIM card and the sum of N7,400 in cash.

According to the Prosecution, after the attack, the accused shared the stolen money among themselves and dumped the victim’s body in a maize farm.

The deceased was reportedly seriously injured during the attack and later died from the injuries, after which the charges were filed under Sections 97, 297 and 221 of the Penal Code Law.

When the charges were read and explained to them at the commencement of the trial, both accused persons pleaded not guilty.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses, who testified before the court and were cross-examined by the Defence Counsel, Barrister A.B. Danmamman, and called one witness, who was cross-examined by the prosecution Counsel.

While delivering judgment, Justice Haruna said he had carefully considered the charges, evidence presented by the Prosecution and the testimony of the defence witness.

The Judge then held that the Prosecution had established its case and proved the allegations against the accused beyond all reasonable doubt, particularly through the testimony of the first prosecution witness.

He further held that the accused persons had failed to establish a credible defence to the charges.

Justice Haruna consequently convicted Buhari Sule and Muktari Ali Hilami of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide and sentenced each of them to death by hanging by the neck until they are dead.

The prosecution was led by Barrister Abdulkadir Umar Ibrahim from the State Ministry of Justice, while Barrister A.B. Danmamman represented the accused persons.