A Kano State High Court has sentenced a 27-year-old driver, Kassim Hussain, to 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of killing a traffic officer from the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA). The tragic incident occurred when Hussain ran over the officer while trying to escape after the officer attempted to remove his car’s number plate.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Maryam Sabo, delivered the verdict on Wednesday, also imposing a fine of N500,000 on Hussain. She ordered that if the driver fails to pay the fine, he would serve an additional five-year jail term. The sentence will run concurrently and take effect from the date of Hussain’s arrest.
The prosecution, represented by Mahdi Aliyu Abdulrahman from the Kano State Ministry for Justice, brought a case against Hussain, accusing him of causing the death of KAROTA officer Tijjani Adamu Gambo. The officer was on duty at the time of the incident, which occurred on October 29, 2021, on Airport Road near Eldorado Cinema in Nassarawa Local Government Area. According to the charge sheet, Hussain hit Gambo with his car in an attempt to evade arrest, which resulted in the officer’s death.
The prosecution argued that Hussain’s actions amounted to culpable homicide. “You, Kassim Hussain, knocked down and ran over Tijjani Adamu Gambo with your car in order to prevent him from removing your plate number or taking you to their office, an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code,” stated Abdulrahman.
To support the case, the prosecution called five witnesses, including the deceased officer’s father, Adamu Gambo Unguwa Uku, and a KAROTA officer who was present at the scene. Medical evidence was also presented, including a certificate confirming the officer’s death and photographs of the deceased. Dr. Ibrahim, who examined the officer after the incident, confirmed that the injuries sustained from being hit by the car were fatal.
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In his defense, Kassim Hussain testified as the sole witness, with his lawyer, Felix Jones Osimerha, arguing that the defendant did not intend to kill the officer. Hussain was initially charged under Section 221 of the Penal Code, which carries a potential death sentence. However, after hearing both sides, Justice Sabo ruled that Hussain was guilty under Section 222 of the Penal Code, which addresses culpable homicide not punishable by death.
As a result, the court convicted Hussain and sentenced him under Section 224, which allows for imprisonment for life or a lesser term, along with a fine. Justice Sabo opted for the 15-year sentence, with the N500,000 fine imposed on top of the prison term.
The case has sparked significant public interest, as many see it as a tragic reminder of the risks traffic officers face in the line of duty. KAROTA personnel are responsible for enforcing traffic regulations in Kano State, and the incident has highlighted the dangers they encounter when trying to ensure compliance with traffic laws.
The sentencing of Kassim Hussain brings some closure to the family of the deceased officer, though his father, Adamu Gambo, expressed the deep pain the family continues to feel. “My son lost his life while doing his job, and no punishment can bring him back, but we hope this serves as a warning to others,” he said after the verdict.