A High Court in Plateau State has sentenced Emmanuel Ude, a former student of Government Technical College, Bukuru, to death by hanging for the 2021 murder of his teacher, Mr. Job Dashe.
Justice Silas Bakfur delivered the judgment on Monday, finding Ude guilty of culpable homicide under Sections 221 and 222 of the Plateau State Penal Code, which mandate the death penalty for such an offence.
The incident took place in July 2021. Ude, who was then a student at the technical college in Jos South Local Government Area, was confronted by Mr. Dashe, who was serving as the Duty Master. Court proceedings revealed that Ude had violated dining hall rules and refused to comply when asked to open his food flask for inspection, due to suspicion of illegally obtaining food.
Minutes after this confrontation, Ude went to his dormitory, returned with a knife, and stabbed the teacher in the chest before fleeing. Mr. Dashe was quickly taken to a hospital along Vom Road but was later confirmed deceased.
Following a police investigation, Ude was arrested and provided a confessional statement at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which was admitted as crucial evidence during the trial. The prosecution, led by state counsel Nansil Mbah and Solomon Deme from the Plateau State Ministry of Justice, argued that the act was premeditated and deliberate. The trial spanned nearly four years.
Defence counsel Josil Drinkat pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, highlighting the convict’s remorse during the proceedings. However, Justice Bakfur stated that while the court acknowledged the convict’s remorse, the law in such circumstances left no room for leniency.
He said, “The prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The hands of the court are tied; I can only do what the law prescribes in such a situation.”
Emmanuel Ude was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging until certified dead.
