A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has sentenced 24-year-old Dahiru Yusuf Abbah to death by hanging after finding him guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the death of his father, Dahiru Yusuf.

Justice M. M. Gwatana delivered the judgment on October 5, 2026, holding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt under Section 221 of the Kogi State Penal Code, 2019.

The case arose from an incident in the Sarkin-Noma area of Lokoja on October 5, 2024. Abbah was subsequently arrested and arraigned on charges of culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy under Sections 221 and 97(1) of the Kogi State Penal Code, 2019, as amended, in suit number HCL/01C/2025.

According to the prosecution, the deceased sustained serious injuries during the incident and was taken to hospital, where he was later confirmed dead on October 9, 2024.

During the trial, the prosecution called nine witnesses, including the deceased’s wife, Hajia Jumai Dahiru, and the defendant’s siblings, Nafisat Dahiru and Auwwal Dahiru. It also presented nine exhibits to the court, including physical and digital evidence connected to the case.

The judge noted that none of the prosecution witnesses directly witnessed the attack. However, Justice Gwatana ruled that the circumstances established through the evidence before the court were sufficient to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt.

The court placed particular weight on the evidence relating to the defendant’s blood-stained clothing and testimony from members of the deceased’s family.

Justice Gwatana also considered the defence presented during the proceedings. The defendant did not call a witness to directly address the homicide allegation, although an Islamic cleric testified on an inheritance-related matter. The judge considered that evidence irrelevant to the charge before the court.

The court further noted that three people identified by the defendant as possible alibi witnesses did not appear to testify.

After considering the evidence, Justice Gwatana found Abbah guilty of culpable homicide and imposed the death sentence.

However, the judge dismissed the separate criminal conspiracy charge, ruling that the prosecution had not produced sufficient evidence to establish that allegation.

Following the judgment, defence lawyers Mohammed S. Inuwa and Mohammed S. Maihaja said they intended to appeal the decision. They reportedly challenged the admissibility of some of the evidence relied upon by the court.

Abbah maintained his innocence and appealed for clemency.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Bala, head of the deceased’s family, welcomed the judgment, saying the family’s concern was that justice should be served rather than seeking a personal dispute with the convict.

The judgment concludes the case at the trial-court level, but any appeal filed by the convict could lead to further judicial consideration of the conviction and sentence.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia