Kano Seeks Death Penalty For Child-Bride Accused Of Poisoning Husband, Three Others

brideThe 14-year-old child bride accused of killing her husband and three of his friends by poisoning their food in April, has been charged by the Kano State Government with culpable homicide punishable by death.

The charge comes on the heels of the withdrawal of the case that has attracted local and international attention, from the juvenile court to a Kano State High Court over what legal experts have attributed to “lack of jurisdiction by the lower court”.

According to the charge sheet, which was obtained by Sunday Vanguard, entitled, “Application to prefer a charge under Section 185(B) of the Criminal Procedure code Cap.105 Laws of Kano State 1991”, signed on behalf of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice by a Senior State Counsel in the ministry, Lamido A Soron Dinki, seven prosecution witnesses were lined up to testify.

The three-page document stated inter alia: “By the power conferred upon the Attorney General of Kano State of Nigeria under Section 211(1) (a) (b) and (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Section 7 of the Criminal Procedure Code Law Cap. 37 Laws of Kano State which delegate powers, I do hereby seek, under Criminal Procedure Code, to charge for trial of Wasila Tasiu”.

It further read, “That you, Wasila Tasiu, 14 years, of Yansoro village , Gaya Local Government Council, on or about the 5th day of April, 2014, at about 14:30 hours, at Yansoro village, Gaya within the Kano Judicial Division, did commit culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of four persons.

“Wasila Tasiu allegedly killed Umar Sani, 35, Hassan Alhassan, 25, Nasiru Muhammad, 13, and Indo Ibrahim, 12, by poisoning them with a rat killer substance in their food, with intention of causing their deaths and you hereby committed an offence under Section 221 (a) of the Penal Code Law of Kano State 1990, Cap 105”.

The case has been fixed for hearing on August 4, 2014 at Kano State High Court, Gezewa, just as it was learnt that the accused’s lawyers had been served notice.

Speaking on the development, the President, Federation of Women Lawyers, Kano State chapter, Hajiya Hussaina Aliyu, confirmed the receipt of the legal documents, adding: “Competent hands have been assigned to handle the case”.