A Kano High Court has sentenced a 19-year-old housewife, Saudat Jibrin, to death by hanging for the murder of her 30-year-old husband, Salisu Idris, nine days after their wedding.
Jibrin, a resident of Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, was convicted of culpable homicide after the court found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Maryam Sabo sentenced the defendant to death by hanging and informed her of her right to appeal the verdict.
“I hereby sentence Saudat Jibrin to death by hanging for culpable homicide. You have 90 days to appeal,” the judge ruled.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on May 5, 2025, at Farawa Quarters in Kano.
Prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, told the court that Jibrin allegedly laced her husband’s Zobo drink before slashing his throat with a knife at about 9 p.m., just nine days after they got married.
The prosecution presented two witnesses during the trial to support its case against the defendant.
Although Jibrin denied committing the offence, the court held that the evidence presented was sufficient to establish her guilt.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 221(a) of the Penal Code.
During the defence, Jibrin testified on her own behalf, while her lawyer, Abdulfatah Muhammad, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
Muhammad argued that his client had transformed while in custody, noting that she had memorised the Holy Qur’an.
He also urged the court to consider her family circumstances, stating that she is her parents’ eldest child and that her younger siblings depend on her for support.
Despite the plea for leniency, the court upheld the death sentence after finding her guilty of culpable homicide.