Court Sentences Housewife To Death By Hanging

Farida Abubakar was found guilty on Monday, June 3, by a High Court in Birnin Kebbi of killing her ex-husband, Chief Magistrate Attahiru Muhammad-Ibrahim, and hanging her.

While the primary charge was filed on July 26, 2023, Farida was arraigned for murder before the court on August 25, 2022.

The convict, according to the prosecution, fatally attacked Chief Magistrate Muhammad-Ibrahim on the evening of August 25, 2022, stabbing him in the belly, throat, and left arm.

Chief Judge of the state, Justice Umar Abubakar, delivered the following ruling: “The defendant was last seen with the deceased in his house in Birnin Kebbi, shortly after, he was found dead.

“Circumstantial evidence linked the defendant to the offence.

“The burden of proof is on the prosecution to establish guilt against the accused person beyond reasonable doubt within the boundary of evidence adduced.

“With the extra-judicial statement of the accused person and the testimony of 12 prosecution witnesses, the court is overwhelmingly convinced that the circumstantial evidence is an irresistible fact that she was the one who killed the deceased.

“The evidence adduced is cogent, compelling, not controverted.

“Her Hijab was found smeared with blood. It was her intention to kill him. She knew death would be the consequence of her action. The offence was committed at a time when the deceased was about to marry a new wife.

“The court is satisfied, it is clearly established that the defendant mercilessly planned and marshalled the attack with a sharp object, obviously to cause death or knowing the consequence of her act to cause death or does not care.

“The court has found you guilty of culpable homicide and bodily harm, the court has convicted you as charged.

“The court has sentenced you to death by hanging in accordance with section 191(b) penal code law of Kebbi State. You are to be hanged by the neck until you are dead.

“The court has also sentenced you to seven years in prison for causing bodily harm in accordance with section 224 (1) of the penal code law of Kebbi State,” the Judge read out in the judgment.

In mitigation, Mudashiru Sani, the defence counsel representing Abdulnasir Sallau, described the convict as a first-time offender with elderly parents.

According to the counsel, the inmate cares for her parents and has a little child who needs maternal care.

He pleaded with the court to give the defendant a reduced punishment so that she might complete her sentence and return to society as a rehabilitated individual, given her age.

Responding, the Prosecuting Counsel, Lawal Hudu-Garba, Director of Public Prosecution in the state Ministry of Justice, urged the court to follow the latter part of the statute as a deterrent to others from committing the same horrific crime.

After the judgement, the defence counsel, Sani, stated that his client would appeal.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli