A Kano State High Court has sentenced a 19-year-old woman, Saudat Jibrin, to death by hanging after convicting her of culpable homicide in connection with her husband’s death.
The victim, Salisu Idris, was 30 years old and was killed nine days after the couple’s wedding.
Justice Maryam Sabo delivered the judgment on Thursday, July 30, 2026, ruling that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge consequently sentenced Jibrin to death by hanging and informed her that she had 90 days to challenge the decision through an appeal.
Jibrin, a resident of Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, had denied committing the offence during the trial.
Prosecution counsel Lamido Abba-Sorondinki told the court that the incident occurred on May 5, 2025, at Farawa Quarters in Kano.
According to the prosecution, Jibrin placed a substance in her husband’s “Zoho” drink at about 9 p.m. before cutting his throat with a knife.
The prosecution called two witnesses to support the culpable homicide charge brought against the defendant.
Abba-Sorondinki argued that the offence violated Section 221(a) of the Penal Code.
Defence counsel Abdulfatah Muhammad presented Jibrin as a witness during the defence stage of the trial.
Following her conviction, Muhammad appealed to the court for leniency, stating that his client had undergone personal reform while being held in custody.
The lawyer told the court that Jibrin had memorised the Holy Qur’an during her detention and had become a changed person.
He also asked the court to consider her family responsibilities, describing her as her parents’ eldest child and saying that her younger siblings depended on her for support.
The court, however, found that the prosecution had proven the culpable homicide charge and imposed the death sentence prescribed under the applicable law.
Jibrin may appeal the judgment within the 90-day period granted by the court.
