Tamale High Court Acquits Butcher in Nyeshegu Murder Case; Ruling on Causing Harm Set for January 27

After six years of trial, the Tamale High Court has acquitted a butcher, Alhaji Tahiru Mohammed, of the murder of Abukari Abdul Halim, which occurred on July 1, 2020, at Nyeshegu in the Sagnarigu Municipality in the Northern region.

The acquittal followed a 4–3 majority verdict by a seven-member jury, which was announced in court on Thursday by the presiding judge after both the prosecution and the defence closed their cases.

The state, led by Senior State Attorney Linda Anibrika, had argued that evidence presented before the court established that the accused intentionally committed the offences and urged the jury to convict him on two counts, murder and causing harm.

The prosecution further prayed for a unanimous verdict from the jury on both charges. Alhaji Tahiru Mohammed, a butcher residing at Agric in Tamale, was arrested on July 6, 2020, for allegedly shooting Rashida Abubakari on her things and Abukari Abdul Halim, who later died from his injuries.

According to the prosecution’s case, Rashida Abubakari spent about two months in the hospital after she was allegedly shot by the accused, who was also accused of attempting to forcibly have sexual intercourse with her.

 During the hearing, the Senior State Attorney objected to the defence’s claim of mistaken identity, describing it as an attempt to mislead the seven-member jury. However, defence counsel, Sylvester Isang, maintained that the identification process conducted by the prosecution on July 3 and June 10, 2021, was flawed and amounted to a case of mistaken identity.

He argued that the prosecution’s actions were intended to tarnish his client’s image in society and urged the jury to return a verdict of not guilty on both counts.

After evaluating the submissions of both the prosecution and the defence, the court upheld the jury’s verdict acquitting Alhaji Tahiru Mohammed of the murder charge.

The court has, however, adjourned the case to January 27, 2026, to rule on the second count of causing harm, following the filing of written submissions by both parties.

 Speaking to Zaa News after the proceedings, Senior State Attorney Linda Anibrika disclosed that the state has been directed to file its written submissions within two weeks for the determination of the causing harm charge.

Defence counsel, Sylvester Isang, also told Zaa News that his client had been innocent from the day of his arrest, adding that the acquittal on the murder charge had saved him from a possible life imprisonment.