Jigawa court sentences wife, her husband, sister and brother to d3ath by hanging for k!lling woman over witchcraft

A Jigawa State High Court, presided over by Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin-Kudu, has convicted and sentenced a wife, her husband, her brother and her sister to d3ath by hanging over a case of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

The convicts were arrested in 2019 after being investigated and prosecuted before the court in connection with the offences of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. They conspired and beat one Salamatu Musa, a 30-year-old woman, to death with a stick, leading to her demise.

Earlier, the convicts were found guilty of accusing the deceased of witchcraft. They alleged that her supposed “evil acts” caused the d3ath of their son.

The convicts, identified as Hassan Isah (55 years old), Adama Yahaya (42 years old), Abdullahi Yahaya (35 years old), and Maryam Daso Yahaya (28 years old), were said to be living with the deceased at the same address in Kwan-Dole Village of Mallam-Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

During the prosecution, the court heard testimony from five witnesses, reviewed a medical report, and considered the confessional statements of the convicts.

The court found them guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, offences punishable under Sections 97 and 221(b) of the Penal Code Laws.

In his ruling on Wednesday, Decmber 4, 2024, Hon. Justice Ado Birnin-kudu said that the court having found them guilty for the offence committed with a full knowledge that the probable consequence is a death sentence.

Therefore, “the court is hereby convicted and sentenced them to Six (6) years imprisonment each for the offence of criminal conspiracy and death by hanging for the offence of culpable homicide.”
 

They have 90 days right of appeal.