Man sentenced to death for killing motorcyclist in Bauchi

A Bauchi State High Court, presided over by Justice Aliyu Baba Usman, has sentenced one Mamuda Zakariyau to death by hanging for the murder of a commercial motorcyclist during a robbery attempt. Delivering the judgment today in Bauchi, Justice Aliyu stated: “For the offence of culpable homicide punishable by death, the defendant, Mamuda Zakariyau, is […]

A Bauchi State High Court, presided over by Justice Aliyu Baba Usman, has sentenced one Mamuda Zakariyau to death by hanging for the murder of a commercial motorcyclist during a robbery attempt.

Delivering the judgment today in Bauchi, Justice Aliyu stated: “For the offence of culpable homicide punishable by death, the defendant, Mamuda Zakariyau, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”

Zakariyau was arraigned by Yusuf Adamu, counsel to the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice, on a two-count charge:

Count one stated that on October 16, 2025, Zakariyau conspired with one Sadiq (alias Gwaska), who remains at large. The duo boarded a motorcycle driven by Basiru Mohammed and directed him to the old airport area, where they stabbed him and robbed him of his motorcycle, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, LFN 2004.

• Count two detailed that the conspiracy resulted in culpable homicide. After being stabbed and robbed, the victim, Basiru Mohammed, collapsed and died at the scene, an offence contrary to Section 217 of the Penal Code Law of Bauchi State.

During the trial, the prosecution called four witnesses and tendered five exhibits, including a mobile phone, the motorcycle, a blood-stained knife, and a pair of shoes.

The defense counsel, Barrister Kayode Omosehin, had urged the court to acquit the defendant, arguing that the confessional statement was involuntary and contrary to the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Bauchi State. 

He further contended that there were no eyewitnesses and that the evidence presented was merely circumstantial.

However, in his judgment, Justice Aliyu Baba Usman ruled that the prosecution had proved both counts beyond a reasonable doubt.

 He subsequently convicted Zakariyau of armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable by death.