87-Year-Old Arraigned For Allegedly Cutting Off Area Court Judge’s Hand In Adamawa

An 87-year-old man, Dahiru Garba, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Yola, Adamawa State, for allegedly attacking an Area Court judge with a cutlass and inflicting grievous injuries on his hand.

Garba, a resident of Korawa village in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was accused of attacking the Presiding Judge of Mayo-Ine Area Court, Hon. Dauda Hamman, on August 31, 2026, while the judge was presiding over a case involving the suspect and one Ismail Yusuf.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, September 8, by the Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, Garba allegedly used a cutlass to repeatedly attack the judge’s hand, resulting in serious injuries.

Nguroje said police operatives immediately arrested the suspect following the incident.

He explained that the case was initially handled by the Divisional Police Headquarters in Fufore before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yola, on September 4, for further investigation and prosecution.

“Upon completion of investigation, the suspect was on Monday, 8th September, 2026, arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court I, Yola, presided over by Chief Magistrate Ismail Bello Shelleng,” the police spokesperson said.

Garba was arraigned on a one-count charge of causing grievous hurt, contrary to Section 219 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018.

The charge was prosecuted by ASP Zakka Musa on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Kabir Umar Hassan.

“When the charge was read and interpreted to him, the defendant pleaded guilty and blamed the devil for his action, saying he deeply regretted it,” the statement said.

Following his plea, the court ordered that the 87-year-old defendant be remanded at the Yola Correctional Facility pending further hearing.

The police spokesperson quoted the Commissioner of Police as assuring members of the public that the case would be diligently prosecuted.

“CP Kabir Umar Hassan assures the public that the matter will be diligently prosecuted to ensure justice is served,” Nguroje said.