The Federal High Court in Asokoro, Abuja, has sentenced a 22-year-old cleaner, Maryam Adewumi, to 20 years in prison for stabbing her 35-year-old boyfriend, Shallom Oliseh, to death. The judgment was delivered by Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme.
Ms. Adewumi was initially charged with culpable homicide punishable by death. However, the judge ruled that the prosecution, led by Adama Musa, had proven the lesser charge of culpable homicide not punishable by death.
“I find the defendant guilty of culpable homicide not punishable with death and convict her,” the judge declared.
During the trial, the defense counsel, Williams Ataguba, informed the court that the convict had no prior criminal record. He noted that Ms. Adewumi is a mother of two and that her children were under the care of her grandmother, who has since passed away. Both of her parents are also deceased. Ataguba pleaded for mercy, highlighting that she had already spent over two years in detention and would reform if given the opportunity.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Ms. Adewumi to 20 years imprisonment, effective from the date of her arrest on July 5, 2024.
The prosecution stated that Ms. Adewumi and the deceased engaged in a physical altercation in Kurudu, Abuja, on July 5, 2024. During the fight, she stabbed him in the chest with a knife. The prosecutor argued that the act caused severe bodily injury leading to his death, which she knew was a likely consequence.
The offense contravened Section 220(a) and (b) of the Penal Code and is punishable under Section 221.
In her defense, Ms. Adewumi claimed she acted in self-defense and did not intend to kill him.
