A Kano State High Court has sentenced Sha'aibu Abdulkadir to death by hanging for the murder of a newly married pregnant woman, Rumasa'u Shuaibu. The court heard that Abdulkadir killed the 23-year-old after she informed him that the baby she was carrying belonged to him and not her husband.
Trial and Verdict
Justice Farida Dan Baffa of High Court No. 22 delivered the judgment on Friday, July 24, 2026, finding Abdulkadir guilty of culpable homicide beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution called three witnesses during the trial, while the defendant testified in his own defense.
According to evidence presented in court, Abdulkadir visited the victim at her residence in 2025 and killed her after she revealed the paternity of her unborn child. The court also heard that Shuaibu had demanded N500,000 from Abdulkadir and threatened to expose their relationship if he did not pay.
Defendant's Claim
During the trial, Abdulkadir claimed that he killed Shuaibu because she told him the baby was his and not her husband's. This assertion was part of his defense, but the court ruled that the prosecution had sufficiently established the elements of murder.
Sentencing
Justice Dan Baffa, after reviewing all evidence and submissions from both parties, sentenced Abdulkadir to death by hanging. The sentence is subject to appeal.
