Nigeria Supreme Court upholds death sentence for Abu Umar
Nigeria's Supreme Court confirmed the conviction and death sentence of Abu Umar for the fatal stabbing of Abdulkadir Abubakar on 25 June 2015 in Tafa Town, Niger State. The panel of five justices, led by Justice Jummai‑Hannatu Sankey, ruled that Umar's appeal lacked merit and affirmed the July 22, 2020 decision of the Court of Appeal, which itself upheld the December 14, 2017 death sentence imposed by the Kaduna State High Court. The state was represented by counsel Emmanuel Ekpenyong, who argued that the prosecution had proved the charge of culpable homicide under Section 221(b) of the Kaduna State Penal Code beyond reasonable doubt. Umar was apprehended at the scene, transferred to the Kaduna State CID for investigation, and later charged. He chose not to testify in his own defense. The Supreme Court judgment was delivered on 17 April, with a certified true copy released to the press in Abuja.
Entities: Abdulkadir Abubakar · Abu Umar · Emmanuel Ekpenyong · Justice Jummai‑Hannatu Sankey · Kaduna State Government
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Supreme Court judgment was delivered on 17 April, with a certified true copy released in Abuja. (e33a7ac6-42ea-4e88-9cae-b8b081ce2f86, a3e71667-53b5-49c4-b257-0220e85b8280, 6285e1a4-1035-4297-a780-730c2266faf0)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Kaduna State High Court sentenced Abu Umar to death on 14 December 2017. (e33a7ac6-42ea-4e88-9cae-b8b081ce2f86, a3e71667-53b5-49c4-b257-0220e85b8280, 6285e1a4-1035-4297-a780-730c2266faf0)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The stabbing occurred on 25 June 2015 in Tafa Town, Niger State. (e33a7ac6-42ea-4e88-9cae-b8b081ce2f86, a3e71667-53b5-49c4-b257-0220e85b8280, 6285e1a4-1035-4297-a780-730c2266faf0)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Abu Umar did not testify in his own defense. (e33a7ac6-42ea-4e88-9cae-b8b081ce2f86, a3e71667-53b5-49c4-b257-0220e85b8280, 6285e1a4-1035-4297-a780-730c2266faf0)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Victim Abdulkadir Abubakar died at Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hospital in Sabon Wuse, Niger State. (e33a7ac6-42ea-4e88-9cae-b8b081ce2f86, a3e71667-53b5-49c4-b257-0220e85b8280, 6285e1a4-1035-4297-a780-730c2266faf0)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Abu Umar was convicted of culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 221(b) of the Kaduna State Penal Code. (e33a7ac6-42ea-4e88-9cae-b8b081ce2f86, a3e71667-53b5-49c4-b257-0220e85b8280, 6285e1a4-1035-4297-a780-730c2266faf0)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Nigeria's Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and death sentence of Abu Umar. (e33a7ac6-42ea-4e88-9cae-b8b081ce2f86, a3e71667-53b5-49c4-b257-0220e85b8280, 6285e1a4-1035-4297-a780-730c2266faf0)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Court of Appeal upheld the death sentence on 22 July 2020. (e33a7ac6-42ea-4e88-9cae-b8b081ce2f86, a3e71667-53b5-49c4-b257-0220e85b8280, 6285e1a4-1035-4297-a780-730c2266faf0)