A Kano State High Court has sentenced Adamu Aliyu, 22, and Mubarak Abdulsalam, 20, to death by hanging following their conviction for the murder of their 32-year-old employer, Dahiru Musa. In the same ruling delivered by Justice Fatima Adamu, a third individual, 19-year-old Sadiq Sunusi, received a seven- year jail term for assisting in the incineration of the victim's body to destroy evidence.
Justice Adamu convicted Aliyu and Abdulsalam on charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, while Sunusi was found culpable on a single count of abetment. The judge ruled that the state prosecution successfully proved the allegations against all three defendants beyond any shadow of a doubt, condemning their methodology—which involved poisoning, stabbing, and setting the body on fire—as profoundly cruel.
What led to the tragic incident in Kano State?
According to court filings presented by the prosecution counsel and Kano State Solicitor-General, Salisu Muhammad-Tahir, the crime transpired on September 29, 2024, within the Gaida Yan Kusa Quarters in Kano. The first and second defendants reportedly plotted to eliminate Musa, who employed Aliyu, by administering rat poison before repeatedly stabbing him with knives.
How did the accomplices attempt to conceal the crime?
Testimony revealed that on September 30, 2024, around 6 p.m., Sunusi accompanied Abdulsalam to purchase petrol. They then moved to an uncompleted building where Abdulsalam ignited the victim's corpse. Despite recognizing the remains as human, Sunusi failed to alert law enforcement or relevant authorities.
To substantiate the charges, the prosecution presented five witnesses alongside crucial exhibits, including the murder weapons, video recordings, and written confessions from the accused. The legal infractions breached Sections 97, 221, and 86 of the Penal Code applicable in the state.
Despite the evidence, the defendants maintained their innocence and entered not-guilty pleas. Their legal representative, Mustafa Idris, called them to the witness stand and implored the bench to show leniency. Concluding the trial, Justice Adamu informed the convicts that they have a 90-day window to file an appeal if they disagree with the court's verdict.