A 24-year-old man, Dahiru Abbah, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his father, Dahiru Yusuf, following a ruling by a High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State. The tragic incident took place on October 5, 2024, in the Sarkin-Noma area of Lokoja, and the court delivered its judgment on October 5, 2026.

Justice M.M. Gwatana presided over the case and found Abbah guilty of culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Kogi State Penal Code, 2019. During the trial, the prosecution established that Abbah intentionally inflicted fatal injuries on his father, resulting in his death. The court heard that the victim succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on October 9, 2024, after being stabbed in the chest and back during an altercation.

The prosecution, led by Barrister M. Abaji, presented nine witnesses, including the deceased's wife and the defendant's siblings, to support their case. They also submitted several pieces of evidence, including the defendant's blood-stained shirt, the victim's blood sample, and the knife used in the attack. Despite the lack of direct eyewitnesses to the stabbing, the prosecution successfully argued their case through circumstantial evidence.

Justice Gwatana noted that while the defendant did not call any witnesses to support his defense, the evidence presented by the prosecution was compelling. The judge stated, "The prosecution has successfully proved the case of culpable homicide against the defendant," leading to the conviction.

However, the court dismissed the charge of criminal conspiracy due to insufficient evidence. In his concluding remarks, Justice Gwatana emphasized the importance of credible evidence in establishing guilt in criminal trials.

Following the judgment, the defense counsel expressed their intention to appeal, arguing that the judge relied on inadmissible evidence in reaching the verdict. Meanwhile, the head of the deceased's family, Yusuf Bala, welcomed the ruling, stating that justice had been served. He added, "We have nothing against the defendant, but we wanted justice to be done to serve as a deterrent to others."

This case highlights the serious consequences of violent crime within families and the judicial system's commitment to upholding justice in Kogi State.