Yakubu Busari
A 40 year old Graduate of the University of Jos, of the Faculty of Management, Accounting Department Mr Badung David Dele has been convicted by Justice Christy L.Dabup of High Court No,2 and sentenced to death by hanging for strangling his former lover, Miss Nanchin Zacharias of Angwan Nasarawa Gwom of Jos North Local Government Area of state on the 15/02/2016.
Mr Badung Dele was found guilty of committing the crime of culpable homicide murder punishable under section 221 of the Northern Nigeria 1963 applicable to Plateau State.
In a suit, the State vs Badung David Dele was a murder case of section 221 of the penal code, in which the defendant earlier pleaded guilty to the offense committed.
He was arrested by the Nasarawa Gwom Divisional Police Headquarters, later the matter was transferred to CID headquarters and he agreed that he used a yellow towel to truncate his girlfriend’s neck to death.
Justice Christy Dabup said the court relies on three issues to determine the veracity of the offense committed eyewitness account evidence, confessional statement, and circumstantial evidence of the witnesses.
The judgment declared that the defendant was arraigned and he was proven guilty on 21/03/2021 with exhibits attached which he testified through personal handwriting of committing crime shows that he committed the crime.
However, in the course of the proceedings, One Nanshep Paul Pw1 ,Nanman Zacharias Pw2 ,Insp.Jethro Ishaku Pw3,Chief Supr .Simeo Obinna Pw4 ,the ICO ,Fumi Amos the landlady to the deceased Pw5,all testified before the honourable court their witness accounts on how the whole incident happen .
Their confessed revealed that one Samson the new deceased boyfriend was threatened by Mr Badung David Dele, and the Late Nanchin Zacharias whom he warned her to stay clear of any relationship with Samson .
According to PW2 ,said on 15 /02/2016 behind primary sch cholyap they saw him (David Dele ) who entered into the apartment of the deceased and came out at about 9am and came back again and left the apartment with polyethylene leather bag in his hand .
They suspected his movement and alerted the neighbours after entering her apartment and found her lifeless body they immediately rushed her to BMC Hospital and later she was transferred to Evangelical Winning All Hospital (Jankwano) were the Doctor confirmed her death .
On 17/02/2016 the statements of Pw4 , Elisha Samuel a mechanics and close friend of the family further revealed that the Nanchin Zacharias rejected the Valentine’s Day gift of Dele which he used a transfer of aggression to murder her due to the fact that the deceased refused to accept his proposal after dating her for five years.
However , during his cross-examination the accused person attest that his statements were not taken under duress, Badung David Dele earlier denied saying that on 15/02/2016 when police were in search of him he was with one Abubakar Kamara a close friend.
The judgment read that section 135 of 1999 amended shows that the prosecution counsel has discharge proof of confession, eyewitness, and circumstantial evidence that the accused person committed the murder.
