A High Court in Kano has sentenced two men, Yusuf Ahmad and Auwal Abdulhamid, to death by hanging for the murder of their friend, Ibrahim Umar-Mahmud, following a violent altercation reportedly triggered by a disagreement over football.
The convicts, residents of Rijiyar Lemo and Bachirawa quarters in Kano, were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide after a full trial before the court.
Delivering judgment, Justice Musa Dahuru-Muhammad ruled that the prosecution successfully established its case beyond reasonable doubt through witness testimonies and material evidence presented before the court.
The judge subsequently sentenced both men to death by hanging in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code Law.
According to the prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, the incident occurred on June 7, 2025, at Bachirawa Quarters in Kano. He told the court that at about 10 a.m., an argument broke out between the convicts and the deceased over a football-related misunderstanding, which later escalated into violence.
During the confrontation, the court heard that Ibrahim Umar-Mahmud was stabbed in the chest with a knife. He was immediately rushed to Waziri Gidado Hospital for treatment but was later confirmed dead by medical personnel due to the severity of the injuries sustained.
The prosecution presented five witnesses during the trial and tendered several exhibits, including medical and investigative evidence, to support the charges against the defendants.
Although the two men denied involvement in the killing and testified in their own defence through their counsel, Mubarak Muhammad, the court held that the evidence before it clearly linked them to the crime.
The prosecution stated that the offences contravened Sections 97(1) and 221(a) of the Penal Code Law, which prescribe punishment for criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide punishable by death.
The judgment has sparked renewed discussions about youth violence and the deadly consequences of unresolved disputes, especially among young people. Legal analysts say the ruling also highlights the judiciary’s stance on violent crimes and the importance of peaceful conflict resolution.
