The Court of Appeal has delivered a decisive verdict, upholding the death sentence imposed on a Kebbi State woman convicted of murdering her former husband, a serving chief magistrate.
Appeal Dismissed, Sentence Affirmed
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday, January 5, 2025, a three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Farida Abubakar. The panel, led by Justice Tunde Awotoye, affirmed the death sentence originally handed down by the Kebbi State High Court in Birnin Kebbi on June 3, 2024.
The court, in appeal number CA/S/75C/2025, declared that the appeal lacked merit. It consequently upheld the conviction and sentence pronounced by the lower court. "The conviction and sentence of the appellant as delivered by the High Court of Kebbi State on 03/06/2024 are hereby affirmed," the court ruled.
The Fatal Night and Trial Details
The case stems from the tragic events of August 25, 2022. Farida Abubakar was accused of stabbing her ex-husband, Chief Magistrate Attahiru Muhammad-Ibrahim, with a sharp knife. The attack targeted his abdomen, neck, and left arm, leading to his death.
The prosecution, led by Zainab Muhammad Jabbo of the Kebbi State Ministry of Justice, built a strong case against Abubakar. During the trial at the High Court, the prosecution presented 12 witnesses and tendered several exhibits. Key evidence included Abubakar's extra-judicial statement and circumstantial evidence linking her to the crime scene.
The appellate court agreed with the trial court's findings, holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. It specifically upheld the lower court's reliance on the legal doctrine of "last seen," stating it was sufficiently supported by the evidence on record.
Legal Grounds and Next Steps
While the court noted that Abubakar's statements were not considered a full confession, it ruled that all essential elements of the offences had been established. The death sentence by hanging was affirmed under Section 191(b) of the Kebbi State Penal Code.
Additionally, the court upheld a seven-year jail term for the convict under Section 224(1) of the same law, for causing grievous hurt. The case was originally instituted by the People of Kebbi State, with Abubakar represented by her lawyer, A. N. Salau.
However, this may not be the final chapter in this legal saga. Reports indicate that Farida Abubakar has since filed a further appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. She is seeking to overturn the judgment of the Court of Appeal, pushing the case to the nation's highest judicial authority.
