Herdsman collapses in Minna High Court over life jail term

Mild drama was reported to have occurred at Minna High Court Number Six, when a herdsman, Musa Nagoma, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Balkisu Yusuf.

During the reading of the judgement by the judge, the man was said to have slumped in the dock upon hearing the sentence.

He was arraigned along with his co-defendant, who was discharged for lack of diligent prosecution by the office of the Attorney General of Niger State for the offence of kidnapping.

Justice Gambo found the accused guilty of the offence of kidnapping punishable under section 2 (2) of the kidnapping and cattle rustling law of Niger State.

In an over two-hour judgement, Justice Gambo, while reviewing the case, held that the Prosecuting counsel had proved his case beyond every reasonable doubt and was found guilty of kidnapping, punishable under section 2 (2) of the kidnapping and cattle rustling law of Niger State.

However, the courtroom was thrown into confusion immediately, the judge pronounced the sentence as interpreted from English to Hausa when Nagoma collapsed while standing in the dock.

The court correctional officers were said to have rushed to the dock and evacuated him to the stationed correctional ambulance at the court premises to the hospital.