Appeal Court Upholds Death Sentence On Woman For Killing Ex-Husband

The Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, has upheld the death sentence on Farida Abubakar, who was convicted for murdering her ex-husband, Chief Magistrate Attahiru Muhammad-Ibrahim.

The appeal was instituted by Farida Abubakar as appellant, having been dissatisfied with the lower court’s judgment, with appeal No: CA/S/75C/2025. The matter was between Farida Abubakar Vs the People of Kebbi State in the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division.

Hon. Justice Tunde Oyebamiji Awotoye, presiding over a three-judge panel, dismissed Farida Abubakar’s appeal, represented by Barrister A. N Salau and affirmed the June 2024 judgment of the Kebbi State High Court.

“The appeal lacks merit. The court affirms the conviction and sentence of the appellant as delivered by the High Court of Kebbi State on 03/06/2024,” the court ruled.

Farida Abubakar was found guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death and causing grievous hurt, leading to the demise of her ex-husband. The prosecution, led by Barrister Zainab Muhammad Jabbo and her team from the Kebbi State Ministry of Justice, presented evidence from 12 witnesses, including the appellant’s extra-judicial statement and circumstantial links like her blood-smeared hijab.

The evidence revealed that Farida Abubakar stabbed the victim in the abdomen, neck, and left arm. Her counsel argued that the lower court erred in convicting her, citing insufficient evidence. However, the Court of Appeal found the evidence “cogent and uncontroverted,” satisfying the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

“The doctrine of last seen as invoked by the learned trial judge was further fortified by circumstantial evidence adduced by the prosecution,” the court said.

The appellant’s extra-judicial statements were deemed non-confessional, but the court held that the prosecution had established the elements of the offense. Her death sentence by hanging under Section 191(b) of Kebbi State’s Penal Code and seven years’ imprisonment under Section 224(1) for grievous hurt were upheld.

LEADERSHIP reports that the appellant, Farida Abubakar, is reportedly not satisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal and has proceeded to the Supreme Court to test the decision of the appellate court.