Kano Court Sentences Man To Death For Killing Stepmother, Sister

A Kano State High Court on Tuesday sentenced a 22-year-old man, Sagiru Rijiyar-Zaki to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of his stepmother and sister.

The convict, a resident of Kutama Village in Gwarzo local government area was found guilty of culpable homicide for fatally stabbing his stepmother, Rabiatu Sagir, and strangling his younger sister, Munawara, with a scarf.

Presiding over the case, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.

In her ruling, the judge held that, “The evidence presented by the prosecution was credible and convincing. The court, therefore, finds the defendant guilty as charged and sentences him to death by hanging.”

According to the prosecution led by Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, the incident occurred on January 7, 2023, at Rijiyar Zaki Quarters in Kano.

At approximately 8:00 p.m., following a domestic dispute, Rijiyar-Zaki reportedly attacked Rabiatu with a screwdriver, stabbing her in the neck, and later used a scarf to strangle his sister to death.

The prosecution presented two witnesses and submitted material evidence during the trial.

The convict, however, denied the charges and testified in his own defence through his counsel, Mr. Mubarak Abubakar.

The offence contravenes Section 221(a) of the Penal Code Law of Kano State, 1991, which prescribes the death penalty for culpable homicide.