Case: 3yrs after lambata village head’s murder, defence begins hearing

Hearing By Daniel Ebi, Minna 

Three years after the murder of the Village Head of Lambata, Mohammed Abdulsafur, the defence counsel in the ongoing murder trial has opened its case before the High Court sitting in Suleja, Niger State.

The deceased village head was allegedly killed on January 14, 2023, in Lambata, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, during a violent clash allegedly involving youths loyal to one acclaimed village head, Iliayasu Umar Sarki, who is currently standing trial alongside 28 other defendants over the incident.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Aisha Wodu Bawa of High Court 4, Suleja, counsel to the first accused person and 19 other defendants, Baba Shehu Ahmed, informed the court that the defence would present four witnesses from among the accused persons.

The first defence witness, Musa Mohammed Atanda, who is also the 12th defendant in the matter, told the court that he was not in Lambata at the time of the incident.

 He stated that he had travelled to neighbouring Tufa village to obtain medication for his sick mother when he received a phone call from one Mai Anguwa Umaru informing him of a crisis in Lambata.

According to the witness, he immediately returned to Lambata only to discover that security personnel had taken over the area. 

He said he subsequently went home and remained indoors until he was invited to the Police Area Command in Suleja, where he was later arrested.

During cross-examination by the prosecuting counsel, Chief State Counsel Barrister Umar Halilu, the witness denied knowing Mohammed Abdulsafur as the appointed village head of Lambata or as the person allegedly killed in that capacity.

He further told the court that since the death of the former village head about 10 years ago, neither Iliayasu Umar Sarki nor any other person had officially been appointed as village head of Lambata.

The second defence witness, Yunusa Ibrahim, a cousin to Iliayasu Umar Sarki, also denied involvement in the incident. 

He told the court that he was inside Lambata market when the violence occurred and only learnt of the development from his father after returning home later that evening.

The witness stated that Iliayasu Umar Sarki was arrested the following day and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 

He added that he himself was arrested two weeks later while attempting to secure bail for some of the accused persons after relatives of the deceased allegedly identified him as one of the suspects.

Yunusa Ibrahim also told the court that he was unaware of any official appointment of Mohammed Abdulsafur as village head of Lambata. 

He further stated that Iliayasu Umar Sarki had never at any time been officially appointed village head following the death of the late village head, Shuaibu Gani, in 2019.

Justice Aisha Wodu Bawa urged counsel in the matter to avoid unnecessary technicalities capable of delaying proceedings, stressing the need for speedy dispensation of justice.

The judge said the court was determined to ensure that those found culpable were prosecuted while justice was served to all deserving parties.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to May 13, 2026, for continuation of hearing.