Adamawa State High Court of Justice has discharged and acquitted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), ASP Usman Hassan, who was accused of killing 4 people. The Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman, presided over the case on Tuesday.
ASP Usman was tried and found not guilty of all three count charges preferred against him, including conspiracy, culpable homicide punishable with death, and extortion. He was arraigned before the court for allegedly conspiring with six others to cause the death of Buba Grema, Jauro Hampeto, Misa Bakari, and Yusuf by tying their hands and legs with electric cables and throwing them into the Kiri Dam.
The prosecution called three relatives of the deceased as witnesses, but the court found contradictions in their testimonies, which cast serious doubts on the case presented. The court also noted that many potential witnesses were not called, including the vigilante men who allegedly effected the arrest.
Justice Hafsat stated that the offence of culpable homicide punishable with death had not been proven against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. She also declared that the defendant cannot conspire with himself or by himself to commit a crime.
The court discharged and acquitted ASP Usman accordingly, citing material doubts and contradictions in the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses.
