An octogenarian identified as Dahiru Garba of Korawa village in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State has allegedly confessed to cutting off the hands of a Mayo-Ine Area Court judge, Dauda Hamman, during court proceedings.
According to News Platform, Garba claimed that he attacked the judge with a cutlass after becoming angry over what he described as unfair treatment during a case involving him and a complainant, identified as Ismail Yusuf.
Garba was facing allegations of intimidation and trespass before the court presided over by Hamman when the incident occurred on August 31, 2026. He was subsequently arrested and arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court I Admin in Yola, where he was remanded.
The octogenarian reportedly told the court that the incident occurred while he was cross examining a witness called by the complainant. He alleged that the judge repeatedly interrupted him while he was questioning the witness, identified as Nikamus.
According to Garba, when he demanded an explanation for the interruptions, the judge ordered a police officer to take him out of the courtroom. He alleged that the officer slapped him while attempting to remove him, causing him to lose his temper.
Garba claimed that he then brought out a cutlass and attacked the judge, alleging that the judge was responsible for ordering his removal from the courtroom.
He further alleged that other policemen arrived and struggled with him, during which he claimed to have lost N140,000 and his mobile phone.
However, a source close to the court gave a different account of the incident. The source, who spoke anonymously to News Platform, alleged that Garba, Fadimatu and Asabe had conspired to trespass onto the land of Ismail and Yunusa while carrying bows and arrows and intimidating them.
The source said the alleged intimidation and trespass prompted Ismail to institute legal proceedings against the defendants and present a witness to support his case.
According to the source, after the witness testified, the judge allowed Garba to cross examine him. The source alleged that Garba asked about 15 questions, some of which were unrelated to the witness’s testimony.
The source said the judge attempted to correct him, but Garba allegedly became disruptive, shouting at the judge and questioning his competence.
The source added that a senior court official attempted to intervene but was unsuccessful, after which the judge ordered that Garba be taken to a police station.
It was allegedly at this point that Garba brought out the cutlass and attacked the judge, causing serious injuries to his hands.
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