NIGERIA: MAN TO HANG FOR KILLING STEPDAUGHTER IN ZAMFARA

June 26, 2013: A High Court presided over by Justice Bello Tukur Gummi in Gusau, Zamfara State (Nigeria), has sentenced one Abdullahi Abubakar to death by hanging for killing his step daughter.
The judge, in his ruling said the court relied on the confessional statement made by the accused during an investigation carried out by the police.
According to the prosecuting officer, the accused in August 2008 allegedly put poisonous substance (Gamaline A) in the food of Suwaiba Abubakar at Tungar Miya village of Talata Mafara.
During the trial, counsel to the accused, Barrister Ben Azza, raised an objection to the admissibility of the confessional statement of the accused on the ground that the defendant was tortured by the police to confess.
It was gathered that though, the judge ordered for trial within trial, all the testimonies of the witnesses summoned by the accused failed to convince the court or establish that the accused made the statement under duress.
"You are hereby sentenced to death. You will be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and this judgment is subject to the confirmation of the state governor," the judge ruled.
Reacting, counsel to the accused, Barrister Ben Azza said the judgement came to them as a surprise, adding that they would study it and decide the next line of action. (Sources: allafrica.com, 26/06/2013)