Kebbi High Court jails three women for aiding bandits

A Kebbi State High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi has sentenced three women to 14 years’ imprisonment each for criminal conspiracy, abetment and belonging to a gang of brigands.

The convictions followed their trial over allegations that they supplied food, drinks and other items to armed bandits operating in Shanga Local Government Area of the state.

Delivering judgment, Justice Hassan Shehu Kuwwa held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the second, third and fourth defendants, while acquitting the first defendant, Aisha Abubakar.

The convicted women, Jamila Sule, Ramatu Habibu and Zara’u Abdulkarim, were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, abetment and belonging to a gang of brigands under the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.

According to the prosecution, the offences were committed on December 14, 2023, at Sabon Gari Hills Forest in Shanga Local Government Area, where the defendants allegedly aided armed bandits by supplying them with Indian hemp, foodstuffs and soft drinks.

The court admitted the defendants’ statements, recorded in English and translated into Hausa, as exhibits during the trial.

Justice Kuwwa ruled that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish a case against Aisha Abubakar, ordering her discharge and acquittal.

However, the court found Jamila Sule, Ramatu Habibu and Zara’u Abdulkarim guilty on all counts and sentenced each of them to 14 years’ imprisonment.