The Gombe State High Court No. 5 has ordered the amputation of Abdullahi Suleiman’s right hand as punishment for cutting off the hand of a 14-year-old boy, Khalifa Abubakar, during a wedding ceremony brawl in 2022.
According to the court’s verdict, Abdullahi Suleiman was found guilty of severing Khalifa’s right hand with a machete during the altercation.
The incident occurred on February 12, 2022, at Moddibo village, Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The court heard testimonies from five prosecution witnesses, including Khalifa Abubakar himself, who confirmed that Abdullahi Suleiman was responsible for the attack. Three eyewitnesses also testified that Abdullahi struck Khalifa during the fracas.
In addition to the amputation, the court sentenced Abdullahi Suleiman to two years imprisonment or a fine of N50,000. He was also ordered to pay N134,540 as compensation for Khalifa’s medical expenses.
The judgment has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising the court’s decision as a fitting punishment, while others have expressed concerns about the severity of the sentence.
