…As State Govt clarifies, describes process as “lawful, transparent, evidential.”
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
KADUNA: Kaduna State Government has described the publications circulating in social media over the death sentence passed on Victor Solomon, popularly known as Zidane, as false and misleading, alleging that the judicial process was transparent, lawful and grounded strictly in evidence.
While commenting on the public speculations surrounding the judgment delivered on January 6, 2026, the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Kaduna State, James Kanyip, disclosed that Victor Solomon faced two separate criminal trials before two different High Courts over distinct offences involving different victims.
Meanwhile, Victor Solomon’s lawyer, Barrister Mark Jacob, has alerted that arrangement has been completed to appeal against the death sentence judgment next week, in a chat with our Kaduna Correspondent, adding, “We are filing the Appeal next week.”
However, James Kanyip said “There is no contradiction in the court outcomes being referenced online. Victor Solomon was tried in two completely different cases,” he explained.
“Solomon was acquitted in one case in 2024, but lawfully convicted in another in 2026, based on the evidence before the court,” Kanyip stated.
The Attorney-General explained that the first case – Charge No. KDH/KAD/73C/2020 – which bordered on “criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide,” ended with Solomon’s discharge and acquittal on May 21, 2024.
He said, “The second case – Charge No. KDH/KAD/78C/2020 – involved graver offences, including criminal conspiracy, grievous harm without provocation and culpable homicide punishable with death.
“That trial was concluded in October 2025, culminating in Solomon’s conviction and sentence to death by hanging on January 6, 2026.
“The conviction was not arbitrary or politically motivated. It followed due process, full trial and judicial evaluation of facts and evidence,” Kanyip stressed, noting that the defendant retains the constitutional right to appeal up to the Supreme Court.”
Besides, reacting to the growing online commentary, the Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, warned that misinformation surrounding sensitive judicial matters poses a threat to public order.
“The deliberate spread of half-truths and false claims around court judgments is dangerous. It risks inflaming passions and creating unnecessary tension. Kaduna residents must verify information before sharing it,” Maiyaki cautioned.
The Kaduna State Government reaffirmed that under the administration of Governor Uba Sani, governance will continue to be anchored on the rule of law, fairness and inclusivity, assuring citizens that justice in Kaduna State will always be pursued transparently and without prejudice.