The Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction and death sentence of a man found guilty of murdering a woman, Jummai Sa’idu, in Musari Village, Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
In its judgment in Wakili v. State (2026) 7 NWLR (Pt. 2043) 423, the apex court unanimously dismissed the appeal and upheld the concurrent decisions of the trial court and the Court of Appeal, which had convicted the appellant of culpable homicide punishable with death.
According to the facts of the case, the appellant was accused of unlawfully causing the death of Jummai Sa’idu on July 3, 2008, by inflicting multiple injuries on her body with a long-curved knife locally known as “Gariyo.”
Following investigations, he was arraigned before a High Court sitting in Hadejia, Jigawa State, on a one-count charge of culpable homicide contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code. He pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered five exhibits, while the defendant testified in his own defence without calling additional witnesses.
The trial court found him guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging. His appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed, prompting a further appeal to the Supreme Court.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba Adah held that the prosecution had proved all the essential ingredients of culpable homicide beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court reiterated that to secure a conviction for culpable homicide punishable with death, the prosecution must establish that a person died, that the death was caused by the accused, and that the accused knew or had reason to know that death would likely result from his actions.
Justice Adah noted that the evidence clearly showed that the deceased died from wounds inflicted by the appellant and that the attack was deliberate.
“There was the concurrent decision of the lower court on the evidence adduced by the prosecution. It was well proved that the deceased Jummai died from the wound inflicted on her by the appellant,” the court held.
The Supreme Court also rejected the appellant’s argument that the testimony of one of the prosecution’s witnesses amounted to hearsay. The court held that statements made by the deceased to a witness shortly before her death were admissible and did not constitute hearsay evidence.
On alleged inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case, the court ruled that the differing names used by witnesses to describe the murder weapon were minor discrepancies rather than material contradictions capable of undermining the conviction. Both witnesses, it noted, consistently described the weapon as a long, curved knife.
The apex court further affirmed that a voluntary confessional statement can sustain a conviction even when later retracted, provided there is supporting evidence. In this case, the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses corroborated the appellant’s confession.
Addressing the issue of medical evidence, the court held that a medical report is not always essential to establish the cause of death where there is overwhelming evidence linking the accused to the fatal injuries and where the fact of death is undisputed.
The Supreme Court consequently dismissed the appeal and affirmed the death sentence imposed on the appellant.
The case was argued by A. L. Yusuf for the appellant, while Huwaila Muhammed Ibrahim, acting with the fiat of the Attorney General of Jigawa State, represented the respondent.
The judgment was researched and edited by Godspower Eroga. #Securitynewsalert.com
