A Plateau State High Court in Jos has sentenced two individuals, Thomas Danboyi and Pam Lang, to death by hanging for their involvement in the murder of Chung Bot.

Delivering the verdict on Wednesday, the state Chief Judge, Justice David Gwong Mann, found the defendants guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide in the case State vs. Thomas Danboyi & Pam Lang (Charge No. PLD/J112C/2010).

The judge stated that the offences were punishable under the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria, 1963, which was applicable in Plateau State at the time of the crime.

The prosecution, led by the Plateau State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, P.A. Daffi, told the court that the incident occurred on April 26, 2010, at Tahai Gyel Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area.

According to the prosecution, Chung Bot and his family had gone to their farmland in Ta Hei, Gyel, when they were attacked by the accused persons along with others who are still at large.

The court heard that Thomas Danboyi restrained the victim by holding his hands behind his back while Pam Lang repeatedly struck Bot on the head with a stick.

The victim was later taken to Plateau Hospital, Jos, where he died from his injuries while receiving treatment.

Justice Mann ruled that the prosecution had presented compelling evidence proving the guilt of the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The evidence before the court was overwhelming, and the prosecution through its witnesses and exhibits tendered established, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the defendants conspired to commit this crime and intentionally caused the death of the victim,” he said.

Following the conviction, the defence counsel pleaded for leniency, citing that the convicts were responsible family men who had conducted themselves well during the trial.

In response, Justice Mann exercised his discretion in the charge of criminal conspiracy, sentencing them to three years imprisonment.

However, for the offence of culpable homicide, he noted that the law prescribed a mandatory death sentence, leaving him no discretion to impose a lesser punishment.

The case, which has been in court since 2010, has drawn significant public attention.

Observers see the judgment as a firm stance against violent crimes and vigilantism in Plateau State, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in ensuring justice is served.

Legal experts point out that the convicts still have the right to appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal and, if necessary, the Supreme Court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, re-arraigned former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), alongside three others before Justice Charles Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, over alleged fraud.

Dasuki was re-arraigned alongside a former general manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba Kusa, as well as Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

The EFCC charged the defendants with a 32-count indictment, which includes allegations of breach of trust and dishonesty amounting to N33.2 billion.

One of the charges, Count One, states:

“That you COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.) whilst being the National Security Adviser, on or about 27th November, 2014, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, entrusted with dominion over certain properties, to wit: the sum of N10,000,000,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the equivalent of which sum you received in foreign currencies—$47,000,000 and 5.6 million Euros—purporting it to be for special security services, but dishonestly released the said amount for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential primary election, thereby committing criminal breach of trust under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.”

Another charge, Count Five, alleges:

“That you COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.) whilst being the National Security Adviser, between 9th October, 2014, and 17th April, 2015, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated N1,450,000,000, belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which sum was transferred to ACACIA HOLDINGS LIMITED’s bank account controlled by Aminu Baba Kusa, purportedly for organising prayers, thereby committing an offence under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.”

Similarly, Count 19 alleges:

“That you COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.) whilst being the National Security Adviser, between 4th April, 2014, and 30th November, 2014, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, entrusted with dominion over certain properties, to wit: an aggregate sum of N4,685,000,000 (Four Billion, Six Hundred and Eighty-Five Million Naira), dishonestly transferred the sum into the bank account of SYVAN MCNAMARA LIMITED, purportedly for physical security infrastructure, whereas the sum was actually released for the People’s Democratic Party’s gubernatorial election campaigns in Ekiti and Osun States, thereby committing criminal breach of trust under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.”

The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges. In response, prosecution counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe requested a trial date, while the defense sought to allow Dasuki and Kusa to continue enjoying their existing bail conditions.

The prosecution did not oppose but asked for assurances that the defendants would regularly appear in court.

Following submissions from both parties, Justice Agbaza adjourned the case until July 1, 2025, for hearing.

The case, initially assigned to Justice Hussain Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court, was recently reassigned to Justice Agbaza for further proceedings.

The ongoing criminal trial of former Dunamis International Gospel Centre Pastor Abraham Daniel and Peter Enenche has been adjourned following the absence of the presiding magistrate, Chief Emmanuel A. Iyanna.

The case, scheduled for continuation on Wednesday, was stalled as Magistrate Iyanna failed to appear in court.

While no official reason was provided, sources within the judiciary revealed that he had been summoned before a disciplinary panel to address allegations of misconduct filed by the defendants.

Reports suggest that the magistrate had hurriedly searched for case files related to the matter the previous day and had set aside remand orders he had previously issued.

The petition against him, submitted by the defendants, accused him of abuse of office, corruption, procedural violations, and issuing improper remand orders.

The disputed remand order had directed the detention of Abraham Daniel, Enenche Idoga Alexander, Peter Obonyilo Enenche, and Reno Omokri at the Nigeria Correctional Service pending further investigation and prosecution. The order stated:

“An order of this Honourable Court for remand warrant of the Respondents — (i) Mr. Daniel Abraham, (ii) Mr. Enenche Idoga Alexander, (iii) Mr. Peter Obonyilo Enenche, and (iv) Mr. Reno Omokri in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service pending investigation, arraignment, and prosecution.

It is hereby ordered that the Respondents be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction after the conclusion of the said investigation.”

The defendants argued that the remand order was flawed, as it did not specify a duration for their detention, contrary to legal provisions that require remand periods to be clearly defined, typically for seven or 14 days.

As a result of the magistrate’s absence and the ongoing disciplinary process, the trial has been postponed until May 26, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has requested the Magistrate’s Court in Abuja to revoke Peter Enenche’s bail, citing alleged violations of his bail conditions in an ongoing criminal defamation case.

According to a motion filed on March 17, 2025, by Francis Gabriel Esq. from the Nigeria Police Force’s Legal Prosecution Section, the IGP is seeking an order for Peter Enenche’s detention at the Nigeria Correctional Service until the trial’s conclusion.

The legal filing was made under various provisions of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), the Police Act, and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015).

The prosecution alleges that Peter breached his bail conditions, warranting his remand.

Abraham Daniel, Peter Enenche, and other individuals still at large are currently standing trial at the Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja.

They are accused of criminal defamation against Dunamis International Gospel Centre’s General Overseer, Pastor Paul Enenche, and Redeemed Christian Church of God’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.