Man sentenced to death by hanging for killing pregnant woman in Kano

A High Court sitting in Kano State has sentenced Shuaibu Abdulkadir to death by hanging after convicting him of the murder of 22-year-old Rumaisa Shuaibu, who was pregnant at the time of her death.

The judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice Farida Dan Baffa, who held that the prosecution successfully established the charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

Abdulkadir, a resident of Farawa in Kumbotso Local Government Area, was prosecuted on a one-count charge of culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 221 of the Kano State Penal Code. He was formally arraigned before the court on August 23, 2025.

During the proceedings, the prosecution team, led by Barr. Basiru Kabiru Aliyu, presented three witnesses in support of its case. Those who testified included the deceased’s husband, Ibrahim Muhammad, the defendant’s fiancée, Asiya Abdulmalik, and the investigating police officer, ASP Chindo Chiwa.

The court also admitted several exhibits presented by the prosecution, including a video recording of the incident, a flash drive containing electronic evidence, the defendant’s written confessional statement, English and Hausa translations of the confession, photographs of the deceased, the knife allegedly used in the attack, and the defendant’s mobile phone.

After reviewing the evidence and hearing submissions from both the prosecution and the defence, the court found Abdulkadir guilty of killing Rumaisa after she became pregnant for him. Justice Dan Baffa subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging.

Following the judgment, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude (SAN), described the conviction as “another significant milestone in the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that criminal cases are prosecuted professionally, fairly, and diligently.”

According to him, the verdict reflects the ministry’s resolve to protect the rights of victims, uphold the rule of law and ensure individuals who commit crimes are brought to justice.

Maude also commended the lead prosecutor, Barr. Basiru Kabiru Aliyu, for what he described as his professionalism and dedication throughout the trial, noting that his performance represents the standard expected of state counsel.

He further urged prosecutors across the state to continue handling criminal matters with integrity, competence and fairness, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the prosecution of serious offences and ensuring that justice remains central to peace and security in Kano State.