Farmland Dispute: Man gets 20-year jail term for killing uncle in Kano

A Kano State High Court has sentenced a 25-year-old man, Bara’u Sa’idu, to 20 years’ imprisonment for killing his uncle during a dispute over farmland.

Sa’idu, a resident of Jarimawa Village in Bagwai Local Government Area of Kano State, was convicted on Tuesday for the death of his 64-year-old uncle, Magaji Yusuf.

He had pleaded not guilty to a one-count charge of culpable homicide.

The prosecution, led by Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, called four witnesses and tendered several exhibits to establish its case before the court.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on August 7, 2021, at Jarimawa Village. Abba-Sorondinki told the court that at about 6:00 a.m., Sa’idu struck his uncle on the head with a club during a confrontation that arose from a disagreement over farmland.

“The deceased sustained severe head injuries, including the loss of one eye, which eventually led to his death,” he said, adding that the offence contravened Section 221 of the Penal Code Law.

In his defence, Sa’idu told the court that he did not intend to kill his uncle, claiming he acted in self-defence.

“I was trying to defend myself; that was why I hit him with a stick,” he said.

His counsel, Dele Olaniyan, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

However, in her judgment, Justice Maryam Sabo found Sa’idu guilty, holding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

She subsequently sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment under Section 225 of the Penal Code Law for unintentional homicide.