Man To Die By Hanging For Murder Of Bauchi Motorcyclist

A Bauchi State High Court has sentenced a man, Mamuda Zakariyau, to death by hanging for the brutal killing of a motorcycle rider during an attempted robbery.

The judgment was delivered yesterday by Justice Aliyu Baba Usman of the Bauchi State High Court No. 4, who found the defendant guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death.

In his verdict, Justice Aliyu declared, “For the offence of culpable homicide punishable with death, the defendant, Mamuda Zakariyau, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”

Zakariyau was arraigned by the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice, represented by Yusuf Adamu, on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

According to the prosecution, on October 16, 2026, the convict conspired with an accomplice, Sadiq, also known as Gwaska, who is still at large, to commit the crime.

The duo boarded a motorcycle ridden by Basiru Mohammed and directed him to the Old Airport area of Bauchi, where they stabbed him with a knife and made away with his motorcycle.

The second count stated that the stabbing led to Mohammed’s collapse and eventual death, an act the court ruled as culpable homicide contrary to Section 217 of the Penal Code Laws of Bauchi State.

During the trial, the prosecution called four witnesses and tendered five exhibits, including the stolen motorcycle, a blood-stained knife, a handset and a pair of shoes linked to the crime.

Counsel to the defendant, Barrister Kayode Omosehin, urged the court to acquit his client, arguing that the confessional statement was involuntary and violated the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Bauchi State, adding that the case relied on circumstantial evidence with no eyewitnesses.

However, Justice Aliyu dismissed the defence, holding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He subsequently convicted Zakariyau of armed robbery under Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, and culpable homicide punishable with death.

The case dates back to October 2025, when the Bauchi State Police Command arrested the then 30-year-old Zakariyau for allegedly stabbing Mohammed to death and stealing his red Bajaj Boxer motorcycle with registration number NNG 813 UM.

Police investigation revealed that the victim managed to raise an alarm before collapsing, prompting residents to chase the suspect, who abandoned the motorcycle and fled. Mohammed was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by doctors.

The suspect was later tracked and arrested through intelligence obtained from a recovered mobile phone. During interrogation, the police said Zakariyau confessed to the crime, claiming he acted out of financial desperation and needed money to marry a third wife.

The police recovered the stolen motorcycle, the blood-stained knife, shoes and an Android phone, all of which were admitted as exhibits during the trial.