A Kano State High Court has delivered a stern verdict in a heartbreaking case of infanticide, sentencing a man to death for the murder of his own newborn son.
Shocking Crime and Motive
The convicted individual, Abubakar Alhaji Sabo, was found guilty of killing his infant child. The court heard that Sabo committed the act after the baby's mother, who was his girlfriend, refused his instruction to kill the child. His motive was to avoid the societal shame associated with fathering a child outside of wedlock.
In a brutal execution of the crime, Sabo force-fed the newborn a local insecticide commonly known as 'fiya-fiya', which led to the child's tragic death.
Violent Confrontation and Legal Proceedings
The case took another violent turn when the girlfriend's father discovered Sabo in the act of poisoning the baby. In response, Sabo struck the older man on the head with a brick, leading to an additional charge of causing grievous harm.
The Kano State Government prosecuted the case before Justice Aisha Yau. During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Barrister Safiya Yalwati Yahaya, presented three witnesses to testify against Sabo. The defendant also took the stand to testify in his own defence.
Final Judgment and Sentencing
After carefully reviewing all evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defence, Justice Aisha Yau found Abubakar Alhaji Sabo guilty of the capital offence of culpable homicide, specifically infanticide.
The presiding judge sentenced him to death by hanging. Furthermore, for the attack on his girlfriend's father, the court imposed an additional three-year prison sentence for the charge of causing grievous bodily harm. This judgment was delivered on January 9, 2026.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's firm stance on severe crimes, particularly those involving the most vulnerable members of society.
