A death sentence passed by the Jigawa State High Court on a couple and the wife’s two siblings has sparked mixed reactions across the state.
The four individuals were found guilty of murdering Salamatu Musa, a 30-year-old woman accused of witchcraft.
Recall that while delivering the judgment on December 4, 2024, Hon. Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin-Kudu sentenced the convicts to six years imprisonment for criminal conspiracy and death by hanging for culpable homicide.
The court ruled that the accused conspired to fatally attack Salamatu Musa, alleging that her supposed witchcraft caused the death of their child.
The convicts, identified as Hassan Isah (55), Adama Yahaya (42), Abdullahi Yahaya (35), and Maryam Daso Yahaya (28), are residents of Kwan-Dole Village in Mallam-Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Speaking on the ruling, Abbas Rufa’i Wangara, Director of Protocol and Publicity for the Jigawa State Judiciary, stated the judgment’s significance in promoting justice and the rule of law.
Wangara noted that the evidence presented, including five witnesses, a medical report, and the convicts’ confessional statements, convinced the court beyond reasonable doubt.
The case has elicited diverse opinions. Hajiya Fatima Mohammed, a human rights activist, praised the judgment, calling it a victory for human rights and a deterrent against jungle justice.
Aminu Bala, a law student, echoed similar sentiments, pointing out its role in curbing vigilantism.
However, some community members, including Alhaji Yusuf Abdullahi, expressed reservations about the death sentence, urging for a balance between justice and cultural values of forgiveness and reconciliation.
The defense counsel, Mustapha Kashim, has announced plans to appeal the ruling within one week.
Kashim argued that justice must address the needs of the victim, dependants, and society, hinting at procedural concerns in the trial.
“The appeal process will provide a fresh perspective on the case, examining the trial proceedings and the imposition of the death sentence.
“The outcome will have significant implications for the convicts and the community,” Kashim stated.
Mixed reactions as Jigawa court sentences couple, siblings to death
