A High Court in Birnin Kebbi sentenced a woman, Farida Abubakar, to death by hanging for killing her former husband, Chief Magistrate Attahiru Muhammad-Ibrahim.

Ms Abubbakar was arraigned before the court for murder on August 25, 2022, while the main charge was filed on July 26, 2023.

The prosecution said the convict stabbed Mr Muhammad Ibrahim with a sharp object on his abdomen, neck and left arm, which led to his death.

The chief judge of the state who adjudicated on the case, Justice Umar Abubakar, held that the court was convinced that the accused person was guilty based on the evidence adduced by the prosecution.

Mr Abubakar said the convict was last seen with the deceased at his residence in Birnin Kebbi after he was found dead.

The judge said Ms Abubakar’s statement and those of 12 prosecution witnesses indicated that she killed her former husband.

” 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, 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) of the 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 ruled on Monday.

In mitigation, the defence counsel, Mudashiru Sani, holding brief for Abdulnasir Sallau, described the convict as a first-time offender with aged parents.

The counsel said the convict was her parents’ carer and had a young daughter in need of motherly care.

He pleaded with the court to give the convict a lighter sentence so that she could finish her time and return to society as a reformed individual, considering her age.

In reply, the prosecuting counsel, who is the director, public prosecution in the state Ministry of Justice, Lawal Hudu-Garba, urged the court to follow the law to serve as a deterrent to others from committing the same heinous offence.

Shortly after the judgment, the defence counsel, Mr Sani, said his client would appeal the verdict.

(NAN)