In a recent ruling by a Kano State High Court, a 27-year-old individual was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the death of a Kano Road Traffic Agency officer who was trying to remove his vehicle’s license plate. The court also imposed a fine of N500,000, with an additional five-year jail term as an alternative if the fine is not paid. The sentences are to run concurrently from the date of the defendant’s arrest.
The incident, which occurred on October 29, 2021, involved the defendant intentionally hitting the officer with his car to avoid arrest and prevent the removal of his license plate. The prosecution, led by Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Abdulrahman, presented evidence including witness testimonies and exhibits like a medical certificate, photos of the deceased officer, and recorded statements.
Despite initially facing a death sentence charge, the defendant was found guilty of culpable homicide not punishable by death under Section 222 of the Penal Code. As a result, he was convicted and sentenced under Section 224 of the Penal Code, which carries a punishment of life imprisonment, a fine, or both. The defense counsel presented the defendant as the sole witness in his defense during the trial.