A Jigawa State High Court has sentenced four individuals to death by hanging after finding them guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide in the murder of a 30-year-old woman, Salamatu Musa, accused of witchcraft.
The convicts include Hassan Isah (55), Adama Yahaya (42), Abdullahi Yahaya (35), and Maryam Daso Yahaya (28). They are all residents of Kwan-Dole Village in Mallam-Madori Local Government Area.
The court heard that the group conspired to kill Salamatu Musa in 2019, alleging that she caused the death of their son through witchcraft.
Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin-Kudu, delivering the judgment, stated that the convicts had knowingly committed the offence, fully aware of its consequences.
He sentenced each of them to six years in prison for criminal conspiracy and death by hanging for culpable homicide.
During the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses, the defendants’ confessional statements, and a medical report.
The evidence provided convinced the court beyond reasonable doubt of their guilt under Sections 97 and 221(b) of the Penal Code Laws.
The Director of Protocol and Publicity for the Jigawa State Judiciary, Abbas Rufa’i Wangara, described the ruling as a testament to the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and delivering justice, regardless of cultural or social influences.
The court granted the convicts 90 days to appeal the judgment.
The ruling has sparked public reactions, with opinions divided over the cultural and legal implications of the case.
Some lauded the judgment for upholding justice, while others debated the role of cultural beliefs in such criminal acts.
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