A state High Court sitting in Bauchi, has sentenced three youths to 17 years in jail for an armed robbery operation that they committed in 2018.

The prosecuting counsel, M.M. Adamu argued that the convicts, Muazu Ya’u, Adamu Abdullahi, Awalu Babayo of Gertogel Village in Bauchi local government area were charged in September 2018 for armed robbery which is contrary to section 96 and punishable under 97 of the Penal Code of Bauchi; Vol 1 of 2006.

A second charge noted that the convicts, together with one Ruwa Abdullahi, now at large, “attacked one Abdullahi Ahmodu with machetes and sticks, to which he became unconscious, after which you robbed him of the sum of N60,000 and thereby committed an act punishable under section 1 (1) a and b of the Robbery and Fire Arms (special provisions Act Cap R11, LFN 2004, as applicable to Bauchi State.”

Delivering the judgement, Justice Abubakar sentenced them to two years imprisonment for the first charge count each while they are to serve 15 years imprisonment each for the second count charge –all without an option of fine.

Reacting to the judgement, counsel to the defendants, Yakubu Maikasuwa, expressed his discomfort about his clients, hinting that an appeal would be filed and hoped that the convicts may be favoured.

“We are not happy that criminal acts are on the increase,” Maikasuwa said.

He pointed out that three things make the judgement favourable for his clients – the witness who could testify, proven evidence and confessional statement written at the Police Station.

“On this case, the court relied solely on the confessional statements (made by the accused persons at the police station),” he said.