Sokoto Court Sentences Three CJTF Members To Death For Armed Robbery, Killing

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Sokoto State High Court has sentenced three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to death by hanging after convicting them of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

The convicts, identified as Gaji Hassan, Abdullahi Goni Gudusu and Modu Bukar, were sentenced on Thursday by Justice Kabiru Muhammad.

The court’s Public Relations Officer, Nakwanta Muhammad Garba, confirmed the judgment in a statement detailing the proceedings.

The case stemmed from an incident in Kagara village, Goronyo Local Government Area, on September 19, 2024, when the defendants intercepted Babangida Nasiru and a woman while armed with rifles.

During the incident, the pair were reportedly taken into the bush, where Nasiru was dispossessed of N260,000 and detained. He was later found dead with gunshot wounds to his chest and neck.

The prosecution called two witnesses to establish its case. In his judgment, Justice Muhammad described the surviving eyewitness’s testimony as consistent and credible.

The judge rejected the defendants’ claim that they had released Nasiru, noting that they failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his death. He relied on the legal principle of “last seen” in reaching his decision.

The court also admitted the defendants’ confessional statements after ruling that they had been made voluntarily. Their allegations of torture were not substantiated, according to the judge.

Justice Muhammad held that the eyewitness testimony provided sufficient evidence to establish the charges against the defendants.

Consequently, the court sentenced each convict to death by hanging in accordance with the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019.