Kano : Housewife sentenced to death for throwing eight-year-old girl into well

A Kano State High Court has sentenced a housewife, Fadila Adamu, to death by hanging after finding her guilty of kidnapping and killing an eight-year-old girl by throwing her into a well.

Delivering the verdict on Friday, Justice Yusuf Muhammad-Ubale ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“I hereby sentence the defendant to death by hanging for kidnapping and throwing the victim into a well which caused her death,” he declared.

Prosecution counsel Lamido Abba-Sorondinki told the court that the crime took place on July 14, 2019, in Tudun Wada Quarters, Kano.

“At about 4:45 p.m., the defendant kidnapped the minor and took her to her house,” Abba-Sorondinki said.

He explained that the defendant misled her sister by claiming the girl was the daughter of a friend who had traveled to Ghana and needed temporary care.

“On July 17, 2019, at about 6:30 p.m., the defendant caused the death of the minor when she threw her into a deep well situated in the Tukuntawa Quarters, Kano,” he added.

The prosecution presented seven witnesses, as well as the defendant’s statements and a medical report confirming the victim’s death. The defendant denied the charges.

The prosecution argued that the crime violated Sections 274(b) and 221(a) of the Penal Code.

Defense counsel Zulaihat Tata called four witnesses, including the defendant, to testify in her defense.