A Kano High Court has sentenced two men, Aliyu Hussaini and Amir Zakariyya, to death by hanging for the murder of Buhari Imam, a lecturer at Northwest University (now Yusuf Maitama Sule University), Kano.
The judgment was delivered on Monday by Justice Fatima Adamu, who found the defendants guilty on three serious charges: criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and culpable homicide.
While delivering the verdict, the judge stated that the evidence presented by the prosecution was convincing and clearly showed that the two men had no regard for human life.
“The action of the defendants shows total disregard for human life,” Justice Adamu said.
She went on to pronounce the sentences: five years’ imprisonment each for conspiracy, 10 years each for armed robbery, and death by hanging for culpable homicide.
“The convicts are hereby sentenced to death by hanging for culpable homicide. May God have mercy on them,” she concluded.
According to the Prosecution Counsel, Mr. Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, the tragic incident occurred in the early hours of June 11 at Sheka Sabuwar Abuja Quarters in Kano State.
The court heard that the two men armed themselves with long knives and machetes and broke into the lecturer’s residence around 3:30 a.m. They attacked him in cold blood, stabbing him in the stomach, thigh, and back before stealing his mobile phone.
The prosecution called three witnesses and submitted medical reports and photographs of the deceased to support the case. These pieces of evidence were crucial in convincing the court of the guilt of the defendants.
Despite the evidence against them, both convicts denied the charges. Their lawyer, Mr. Haruna Saleh-Zakariyya, however, pleaded with the court to show leniency in sentencing.
Justice Adamu, while acknowledging the plea, insisted that the nature of the crime called for a strict punishment, especially considering the violent manner in which the lecturer was murdered.
The offences committed by the convicts were found to be in violation of Sections 97(1), 298(c), and 221(a) of the Penal Code Laws of Kano State.
The killing of Buhari Imam shocked the Kano academic community and the general public when it happened in 2021. The lecturer was known for his commitment to education and was described by colleagues and students as peaceful and dedicated.
His murder sparked outrage and calls for justice, with many urging security agencies to ensure that those responsible were arrested and prosecuted.
Monday’s ruling has brought a sense of closure to the victim’s family and the university community, though the pain of the loss still lingers.
The case also highlights the issue of rising violent crimes and home invasions in urban areas like Kano, with residents calling for improved security and faster justice delivery.
