The Gombe State High Court No. 5, led by Justice A.M. Haruna, has sentenced Abdullahi Suleiman to have his right hand amputated after he was found guilty of cutting off the hand of 14-year-old Khalifa Abubakar with a machete.
The incident occurred on 12th February 2022, in Moddibo village, within the Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, during a wedding ceremony that descended into a violent altercation. Amid the chaos, the groom instructed guests to leave the event. As the crowd dispersed, Suleiman, a resident of Wajari village, joined other youths in using a machete to disperse people.
According to police reports, Khalifa, who had stopped to retrieve a shoe he dropped while fleeing, was struck by Suleiman with the machete, resulting in the complete severance of his right hand. Khalifa’s family swiftly took him to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe, where doctors treated his injury.
The incident was reported to the Deba police station, and although Suleiman was initially granted bail, the state government later took over the case. The State Counsel, Barrister Y.G. Ahmad, filed a suit at Gombe State High Court No. 5, case number GM/88c/2022.
During the trial, the court heard testimonies from five prosecution witnesses, including Khalifa, who confirmed that Suleiman was responsible for the attack. Three eyewitnesses also testified to witnessing the assault, and a medical doctor provided evidence of Khalifa’s injury and the subsequent treatment he received.
In his defence, Suleiman presented two witnesses, but their testimonies were deemed insufficient. After reviewing the evidence, the court found Suleiman guilty.
In delivering the verdict, Justice Haruna acknowledged that Suleiman had expressed remorse and sought forgiveness. Suleiman’s legal counsel, Y.A. Waziri, requested that the court allow them to provide Khalifa with a prosthetic hand as restitution, but this request was rejected.
The court sentenced Suleiman to two years in prison or a fine of N50,000. Additionally, he was ordered to pay N134,540 to cover Khalifa’s medical expenses. Most significantly, the court also ordered the amputation of Suleiman’s right hand, mirroring the injury he inflicted on Khalifa, as a societal warning.
