A Kano State High Court has sentenced a resident of Farawa in Kumbotso Local Government Area, Shuaibu Abdulkadir, to death by hanging for the murder of 22-year-old Rumaisa Shuaibu.
The judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice Farida Dan Baffa, who found the defendant guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law.
Abdulkadir was arraigned before the court on August 23, 2025, on a one-count charge following investigations into the killing.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Basiru Kabiru Aliyu, called three witnesses, including the deceased’s husband, Ibrahim Muhammad; the defendant’s fiancée, Asiya Abdulmalik; and the investigating police officer, ASP Chindo Chiwa.
To prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, the prosecution tendered several exhibits, including a video recording of the crime, a flash drive containing electronic evidence, the defendant’s written confessional statement, English and Hausa transcripts of the confession, photographs of the deceased marked as Exhibits D–D4, the knife allegedly used in the attack, marked as Exhibit E1, and the defendant’s mobile phone.
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Following the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence, led by Mustapha Idris, presented its arguments before the court.
After reviewing the evidence, Justice Dan Baffa held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Abdulkadir guilty of murdering Rumaisa Shuaibu after she became pregnant for him. The court subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging.
Reacting to the judgment, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, SAN, described the conviction as a significant milestone in the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that criminal cases are prosecuted professionally, fairly and diligently.
According to him, the judgment reflects the determination of the Kano State Ministry of Justice to protect the rights of victims, uphold the rule of law and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions.
Maude also commended the prosecuting counsel, Basiru Kabiru Aliyu, for what he described as exceptional professionalism, meticulous preparation and dedication throughout the trial, noting that his performance reflected the high standards expected of state counsel in the ministry.
He urged all state counsel to remain steadfast in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities by conducting prosecutions with integrity, competence, fairness and an unwavering commitment to justice.
The attorney general reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the prosecution of serious criminal offences, safeguarding citizens’ rights, promoting law and order, and ensuring that justice remains the foundation for peace, security and sustainable development in Kano State.
