Two herdsmen charged to court murder

Chief Magistrate Levi Animoku of the Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court in Kogi State has remanded two herdsmen, Anaruwa Illiyasu, 25; and Abdulrahman Yusuf, 30, in prison custody for allegedly killing a woman, Malama Hajo Illiyasu.

The Chief Magistrate gave the order on Tuesday after taking the plea of the accused.

Police prosecutor, Gana Gana had Tuesday told the court that the accused, who reside at Fulani Camp, Elete village, Ajaokuta Road, Lokoja, conspired and kill
Illiyasu on June 4.

He said that the duo attacked Illiyaus with guns and killed her while she was on her way to Lokoja to sell “fura and nunu.”

According to the prosecutor, the deceased, who was the wife of the first accused (Illiyasu), was alleged to be practising witchcraft.

The accused, charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide contrary to Sections 97(1) and 221 of the Penal Code, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor opposed bail for the accused, saying investigation into the case was in progress and asked for adjournment.

He said that under Section 221 of the Penal Code, culpable homicide was not a bailable offence.

He added that the court had no jurisdiction to try the accused and asked that they be remanded in prison custody.

In his ruling, Animoku noted that culpable homicide was punishable with death, adding that Section 341 of the Criminal Procedure Code precluded the court from granting bail to the accused.

He, therefore, ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Kotonkarfe, Kogi State and adjourned the case to June 26 for further mention.


-- Daily Post