A Nigerian man Festus Stephen was given a death sentence in Adamawa High Court Yola for the murder of his friend Mohammed Sani over a N30,000 debt.
After establishing that Festus killed Mohammed Sani, also known as Jega, following a dispute over the N30,000 that he was owed, Justice Bulila Ikharo found Festus guilty.
The prosecutor testified in court that Jega got into a confrontation with the convict, who is from Sabon Pegi bye-pass in Yola town, Yola South LGA, on October 19, 2018, and beat Jega multiple times before killing him.
According to reports, Festus loaned his friend Jega money, but Jega was unable to repay it when it was due.
The terrible situation occurred while the two friends were in a room. Festus wanted his money, but Jega assured him he would return it the following week.
However, the verbal altercation deteriorated to the point when both, allegedly under the influence of codeine and Indian hemp, started looking for weapons to engage in fight.
Jega tried to attack Festus with a knife he pulled out from beneath the bed, but Festus was quicker to get a cutlass and hit Jega twice in the head with it. He died after collapsing into a pool of blood.
Festus then took a pack of smokes, shut the door, and escaped to Mubi, in northern Adamawa, where he is currently facing another trial for allegedly responsible homicide before a different judge. There, he reportedly committed another murder.
Following a trial and conviction for the crime of culpable homicide, which is punishable by death under Section 192 (2) of the Penal Code, Justice Ikharo condemned the offender.
The judge said:
“It is very clear that the defendant had the intention of killing the deceased. He used a cutlass and stabbed the deceased twice in the head, a very vital part of the body. As if that was not enough, he locked him up in the room in his pool of blood and left.
“On the whole, I hereby find and hold that the prosecution has proved its case against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt, and I convict the defendant as charged,” .