By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A Southern Kaduna advocacy group has challenged the Kaduna State Government over its defence of the death sentence passed on Victor Solomon, popularly known as Zidane, describing the government’s position as “shameless” and demanding full disclosure of trial records under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.The group, operating under the name Coalition for Truth and Justice in Southern Kaduna, made its position known in a statement signed by its leader, Mr. George Makeri, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday. The group criticised the state’s explanation of the Zidane death sentence and accused officials of attempting to “whitewash” alleged judicial irregularities.
The statement followed recent clarifications by the Kaduna State Government, through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. James Kanyip, and the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ahmed Maiyaki, that the conviction and death sentence were lawful, evidence-based, and the outcome of a transparent judicial process.
Rejecting that position, the coalition insisted that the case against Victor Solomon was fundamentally flawed and politically motivated. It alleged that Solomon, an Adara farmer from Southern Kaduna, was subjected to prolonged detention, torture, and judicial bias before being sentenced to death on January 6, 2026.
According to the group, the state’s argument that Solomon faced “two distinct cases” does not justify the conviction. It pointed out that Solomon was earlier discharged and acquitted in Charge No. KDH/KAD/73C/2020, which bordered on conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, arguing that the subsequent conviction in Charge No. KDH/KAD/78C/2020 relied on the same set of disputed facts.The coalition further alleged that confessional statements used against Solomon were extracted under duress and should be inadmissible under Section 28 of the Evidence Act. It argued that the Zidane death sentence represents a “two-tier justice system” that unfairly targets individuals from Southern Kaduna while perpetrators of other violent attacks in the region allegedly enjoy impunity.
In its statement, the group also revisited the 2018 Kasuwan Magani crisis, claiming that mass killings in Adara communities were never adequately investigated or prosecuted. It accused the former administration of inflating casualty figures and using the crisis to justify arrests and prosecutions of Adara youths.
The coalition criticised what it described as attempts by government officials to caution against “misinformation,” arguing that such warnings were aimed at suppressing public scrutiny. It therefore formally demanded, under the FOI Act, the immediate release of complete trial records for both cases involving Victor Solomon, including judgments, exhibits, witness statements, and investigation reports.
In addition, the group called for an immediate stay of execution pending appeal, an independent investigation by the National Human Rights Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and renewed prosecutions of those allegedly responsible for violence in Southern Kaduna.The Kaduna State Government has not yet responded directly to the coalition’s FOI demands. However, officials have consistently maintained that the Zidane death sentence followed due process and that the convicted defendant retains the constitutional right to appeal.
