From Yakubu Busari, Jos
A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos Division on Thursday sentenced three accused persons to death by hanging and lethal injection for culpable homicide which is punishable with death .
Justice Arum Ashom of High Court No 3 , sentenced Mr Terry Kefas the first accused ,Samson James ,and Patrick Nyam, for stabbing one Joseph Gonsum to death on the December 25, 2015 on ground of a two count charge .
The count 1 read that you Terry Kefas ,Samson James ,Emmanuel Ujah now deceased and Patrick Nyam on the ,on or about the 25th day of December ,25th at Gada Biu in Jos North Local Government Area ,within the Plateau Judicial Division agreed amongst yourselves to do an illegal act to wit :culpable homicide punishable with death, an act which was done pursuant to your agreement and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section of the penal code ,cap89 laws of Northern Nigeria ,1963 .
Count 11 read that you Terry Kefas ,Samson James Emmanuel Ujah now deceased and Patrick Nyam ,on or about the 25th day of December ,2015 at Gada Biu committed culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of one Joseph Gonsum deceased by stabbing him with a knife on his stomach with the knowledge that death would be the probable consequence of your act and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 221 of the penal code ,cap89 laws of Northern Nigeria ,1963.
Speaking shortly after the sentenced ,the prosecution counsel, an Assistant Director Citizens Right and Law Reform, Barr. John Ishaku Mantu said this is the meaning of justice to the society as the state has been prosecuting the case since 2015 .
He said; “We have done our best as prosecution counsel. We gave in our very best to see that the matter was prosecuted .We appreciate the court seeing reasons with our witnesses that we presented.
According to him,” this is a matter that has four (4) defendants which one passed away in the cause of this trial and today we appreciate God for the judgment which is a justice to the society”, adding that “the law is right on the case of culpable homicide because once there is conviction, it is death sentence.”
The prosecution counsel explained further that the case was delayed because the defence counsel always came up with technicalities once they saw evidence presented by the prosecution. Also, he named the issue of COVID-19 and three strike by JUSUN strike, which affected in the course of this trial .
Mantu preempted the defence counsel by saying;
“We know and we expecting an appeal from them by the grace of God ,we are competent to prosecute them at the appeal court. Whatever way the judgment goes in the appeal court ,they may decide to go to supreme court whichever way . whatever way they’re still on the death row pending the reversal of the decision “,Mantu says .
The Defence Counsel, Barr.David Adudu said, “we are not satisfied with the judgment just delivered by Honourable justice Arum Ashom, so we have to start the process of appealing the judgment by commencing the transmission of the appeal process immediately.”
