By ThankGod Blessing
Jalingo – A high court in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, has sentenced three individuals to two years in prison for criminal conspiracy, without the option of a fine.
The convicted individuals, Abdulmumin Ibrahim, Adamu Abdulhameed, and Yahaya Umar, were charged alongside a fourth defendant, Suleiman Muhammed, on two counts: criminal conspiracy and armed robbery.
On Monday, Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, delivered the verdict, acquitting Muhammed of all charges.
Justice Agya while deciding the substantive charge of armed robbery, ruled that the prosecution, represented by Gimba Samson Esq., failed to produce the victim or eyewitnesses of the armed robbery incident to testify in court.
This failure led to the dismissal of the armed robbery charges against the defendants.
He said, “The prosecution’s failure to present the victim, Summaya Hamman Adama, and eyewitnesses during the trial raises doubt about the defendants’ involvement in the armed robbery.
“Therefore, the armed robbery charges against the defendants are dismissed due to insufficient evidence.”
However, regarding the charge of criminal conspiracy, Justice Agya noted that the confessional statements from Ibrahim, Abdulhameed, and Umar, which were presented as evidence, demonstrated their plan to rob unsuspecting individuals.
Justice Agya clarified that the fourth defendant, Muhammed, was just a victim of circumstance, as indicated by both his statement and those of the convicted individuals, who confirmed he was merely in the same tricycle with them when they robbed a woman of her belonging.
Based on this evidence, Justice Agya discharged and acquitted Muhammed of the conspiracy charge, while sentencing Ibrahim, Abdulhameed, and Umar to two years in prison without the option of a fine.
He added that the convicts have the right to appeal the judgment.
Justice Agya concluded that this verdict should serve as a warning to young men to direct their energies towards productive activities rather than crime
