A Kano State High Court has handed down 10-year prison terms to four men for armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.
Justice Adam Abdullahi, who presided over the case, delivered the verdict on Tuesday, convicting Shafi’u Abubakar, Usman Suleiman, Usman Sa’idu, and Ali Isa.
The accused appeared in court facing a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, offenses punishable under Sections 97 and 298(c) of the Penal Code.
The prosecution stated that the convicts, all residents of Rijiyar Lemo in Kano, planned armed robberies in the residential areas of Sabon Garin Doka and Bankaura communities in Ungogo Local Government Area.
The court was informed that on July 22, 2024, between 3:00 am and 4:00 am, the defendants, armed with dangerous weapons, broke into the homes of Abdullahi Musa in Bankaura Quarters and Mansur Muazu in Sabon Garin Doka, assaulting the occupants and stealing their valuables.
Reportedly, the items taken from Musa included an Infinix phone worth N50,000, a Tecno keypad phone valued at N5,000, a Lifan motorcycle worth N700,000, and cash totaling N800. In a separate robbery the same morning, the convicts allegedly stole N201,000 and 500 CFA from Muazu.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Ibrahim Garba Arif, called two witnesses to support the case.
The defendants, represented by Basira Yunus, later changed their plea from not guilty to guilty.
After entering their guilty plea, the court promptly convicted the men on all charges, sentencing each to 10 years in prison and a N10,000 fine per count.
Justice Abdullahi directed that the sentences run concurrently, effective from July 22, 2024, the date of their arrest.
