A Minna High Court has sentenced a 47-year-old man, Zingfa Nanboi, to 17 years in prison over his involvement in a violent attack on a commercial tricycle rider, in a case of attempted murder and armed robbery dating back to 2022.
Delivering judgment at Court Six of the Judiciary Complex, Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf ordered that the sentences run consecutively.
Nanboi was arraigned by the Niger State Ministry of Justice on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, attempted culpable homicide, and armed robbery.
Prosecuting counsel, Fatima Mohammed, told the court that the offences violated Sections 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, as well as Sections 99 and 229 of the Niger State Penal Code Law.
The court heard that on May 22, 2022, Nanboi conspired with one Frank Moses, who is still at large, to attack a commercial tricycle rider, Adamu Saidu, after boarding from the Obasanjo Complex in Minna heading to Maikunkele.
Along Airport Road, the convict allegedly strangled the victim with a cable, gagged him, and pushed him out of the moving tricycle, leaving him unconscious by the roadside.
The victim later regained consciousness in a bush and was rescued the following morning by a passerby.
During the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses and submitted three exhibits, including the defendant’s statement and video evidence.
Justice Yusuf ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, stating that all charges were established.
While defence counsel, Chief Olukunle Oyewole, pleaded for leniency, describing the convict as a first-time offender with a family, the court sentenced Nanboi to 10 years for armed robbery and seven years for attempted culpable homicide, with no option of fine.
The sentence will run consecutively from the date he was first remanded in custody.
