A village head, identified as Mohammed Sani, has been arraigned before a magistrate’s court in Minna for allegedly killing a man and dumping the corpse in an abandoned well.
The 50-year-old traditional ruler of Madara in Kontagora LGA of Niger state reportedly killed one Abass Usman who was kept under his care sometime in December.
Sani was alleged to have used a hoe-handle to hit the deceased on the head causing serious injuries which led to his death. It was learnt that the offensive odour from the decomposing remains of the deceased attracted residents to the well, where the body was later found.
According to police report, the accused person thereafter dumped the corpse in an abandoned well near his residence. The accused who pleaded guilty blamed the devil for his action.
The offence contravened Section 221 of the Penal Code Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria punishable with death. The prosecuting police officer, Inspector Muazu Abdullahi, objected to the bail of the accused.
Abdullahi stated that the case in question was not ordinarily a bailable offence and that investigation into the matter was still inconclusive.
The presiding magistrate, Hajiya Amina Musa, however, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody. She adjourned the case to March 8 for further mention.
