A Kano High Court has sentenced 19-year-old Saudat Jibrin to death by hanging for the murder of her 30-year-old husband, Salisu Idris, just nine days after their wedding. The sentencing was delivered on Thursday, July 30, 2026, by Justice Maryam Sabo, who ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Details of the Crime
The couple married on April 27, 2025. According to the prosecution, on May 5, 2025, at approximately 9 p.m., Jibrin laced her husband's Zoho drink with poison and then slashed his throat with a knife at their residence in Farawa Quarters, Kano. The prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, presented two witnesses to support the case against the defendant. Jibrin denied committing the offence.
Court Ruling and Appeal
Justice Sabo, in delivering the verdict, stated, "I hereby sentence Saudat Jibrin to death by hanging for culpable homicide. You have 90 days to appeal." The judge's ruling followed the presentation of evidence by Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, who argued that the act contravened Section 221(a) of the Penal Code.
Defense Counsel's Plea for Leniency
The defense counsel, Abdulfatah Muhammad, presented Jibrin to testify in her own defense. He pleaded for leniency, noting that his client had become a changed person while in custody and had memorized the Holy Qur'an. He also emphasized that Jibrin was the eldest child in her family and that her siblings depended on her for survival. The court, however, maintained the death sentence.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the young age of the convict and the short duration of the marriage before the incident. Legal analysts note that the sentence underscores the severity with which the Nigerian judiciary treats spousal murder, particularly in the context of recent rising cases of domestic violence. The convict has 90 days to file an appeal against the judgment.
