An Abuja High Court on Thursday sentenced a 27-year-old mother of three, Immaculate Chukwudi, to 10 years imprisonment for stabbing and causing the death of her neighbour, Salamatu Yunusa.
Court Ruling
The FCT Commissioner of Police charged Chukwudi with culpable homicide. Delivering judgment, Justice Idris Mohammed held that Chukwudi caused the death of Yunusa. The judge cited the provisions of Section 225 of the Penal Code, which states: “whosoever causes the death of a person by doing an act not amounting to culpable homicide but done with the intention of causing hurt or grievous hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years or with fine or with both.”
Defence Plea for Mercy
Earlier, the Defence Counsel, O. Oluwakemi, told the court that the convict had no past criminal record and was a young woman with the capacity for rehabilitation. Oluwakemi added that Chukwudi was a mother of three young children who depend on her for survival and care, urging the court to temper justice with mercy.
Prosecution's Case
The Prosecution Counsel, Adama Musa, told the court that Chukwudi caused the death of her 18-year-old neighbour, Yunusa, by stabbing her in the chest with a knife. Musa said that Chukwudi’s action caused Yunusa severe bodily injury which eventually led to her death on March 12, 2024, in Kubwa, Abuja. He added that Chukwudi did same with the knowledge that death would be the probable and not only a likely consequence of her act.
Sentence
Justice Mohammed sentenced the convict to 10 years imprisonment, which starts from the day she was arraigned in May 2024.
