Taraba Court Sentences Two To 10 Years In Prison For Illegal Firearm Possession

A Taraba State High Court has sentenced two men, Usman Tafi Yau and William Duaknaan, to 10 years in prison without the option of a fine for illegal possession of firearms.

The two were initially charged with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and illegal firearm possession in connection with the alleged abduction of Mohammed Abba in Chediya Village, Wukari Local Government Area, on March 29, 2020.

However, the court found them not guilty of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping due to insufficient evidence. Nevertheless, they were found guilty of illegal firearm possession based on their confessional statements and exhibits presented in court.

The presiding judge, Justice Joel Agya, stated that if the prosecution had been more thorough, the defendants might have faced the death penalty under the state’s anti-kidnapping laws.

The convicts had admitted to kidnapping a Fulani man at Giwan Kogi in Gassol on March 28, 2020, but were tried for the kidnapping of Mohammed Abba, which occurred the next day.

They were arrested at Chediya Village while purchasing food for themselves and their kidnap victim when a vigilante group apprehended them.

Justice Agya sentenced them to 10 years in prison without the option of a fine, with the sentence to run from 2020, as provided by Section 3, sub-section 1 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 2004.