A High Court in Kogi State has sentenced Joseph Emmanuel to death by hanging for the brutal killing of Mrs. Salome Acheju Abuh, a former Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The judgment, delivered on Monday, marks a significant milestone in a case that drew nationwide outrage and renewed calls for justice and accountability in Nigeria’s political space.
Mrs. Abuh was gruesomely murdered on November 18, 2019, just days after the Kogi governorship election. She was locked inside her house and set ablaze by a mob in Ochadamu, Ofu Local Government Area, in what was widely condemned as an act of politically motivated violence. The attack came shortly after the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as the winner of the election.
In his ruling, the presiding judge held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. Eyewitness accounts and material evidence placed Emmanuel at the scene of the crime, participating in the act that led to the immolation and death of the PDP chieftain.
Describing the murder as premeditated, callous, and politically driven, the court dismissed the defence’s argument of mistaken identity. The judge emphasized that the rule of law must prevail, and perpetrators of politically charged violence must be held accountable, regardless of political affiliation or status.
The judgment has been met with a sense of justice and closure by the late Abuh’s family, who had tirelessly called for accountability in the years following her death. Her husband, Elder Simeon Abuh, welcomed the ruling, though he expressed continued grief over the void left by her death.
Civil society groups and political stakeholders also praised the verdict, noting that it sends a clear signal that Nigeria’s judiciary is capable of delivering justice in politically sensitive cases. They urged authorities to build on the momentum and ensure that all unresolved cases of electoral violence are fully investigated and prosecuted.
Mrs. Salome Abuh’s murder became a national symbol of the dangers faced by women in politics and the rising tide of election-related violence in Nigeria. Her death triggered widespread condemnation from across the political divide and civil society, with many calling for urgent reforms to protect lives and uphold democratic values during elections.
The court’s decision is seen by many as not just a victory for one family, but a bold statement against impunity in the Nigerian political system.
