Supreme Court has affirmed a lower court judgment ordering a retrial of Yahaya Ibrahim, a man convicted and sentenced to death for culpable homicide by a Kano State High Court.
A five-man panel of justices, led by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, dismissed Ibrahim’s appeal, citing the need for a fresh trial due to procedural irregularities.
Ibrahim and eight others were charged with conspiracy, culpable homicide, and causing hurt in connection with the death of Alhaji Sabo Jae in 2011.
The trial court convicted and sentenced them to death, but the Court of Appeal later ordered a retrial due to improper arraignment.
The Supreme Court held that the Appeal Court was right in ordering a fresh trial, citing the need for the appellant to be properly arraigned.
The court dismissed Ibrahim’s argument that the order for retrial would cause undue hardship, given the lengthy detention period and weak prosecution evidence.
The Supreme Court’s decision implies that Ibrahim will face a fresh trial, which may potentially lead to a different outcome.
