A woman, Farida Abubakar, was sentenced to death by hanging by a High Court in Birnin Kebbi for the murder of her former husband, Chief Magistrate Attahiru Muhammad-Ibrahim.

Abubakar was brought before the court for the murder charge on August 25, 2022, with the main charge filed on July 26, 2023.

The prosecution detailed how she fatally stabbed Chief Magistrate Muhammad-Ibrahim in the abdomen, neck, and left arm.

In delivering the judgment, Chief Judge Justice Umar Abubakar emphasized the compelling evidence linking Abubakar to the crime.

He said that she was the last person seen with the deceased and her hijab was found smeared with blood.

The court concluded that she mercilessly planned the attack with the intent to cause death, especially as the deceased was about to marry another woman.

Abubakar was found guilty of culpable homicide and bodily harm, leading to her death sentence by hanging and a seven-year prison term.

The defence pleaded for leniency, citing her status as a first-time offender with elderly parents and a young daughter. However, the prosecuting counsel urged the court to uphold the law to deter similar offenses.

Following the judgment, the defence counsel announced plans to appeal the verdict.