The Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, has upheld the conviction and death sentence imposed on Farida Abubakar for the murder of her former husband, Chief Magistrate Attahiru Muhammad‑Ibrahim.
Delivering judgment in Appeal No. CA/S/75C/2025 on Monday, a three‑member panel led by Justice Tunde Awotoye unanimously dismissed the appellant’s challenge and affirmed the decision of the Kebbi State High Court rendered on 3 June 2024.
Quoting the lead judgment, the court held: “The appeal lacks merit. The conviction and sentence of the appellant as delivered by the High Court of Kebbi State on 03/06/2024 are hereby affirmed.”
The appellant was represented by A. N. Salau, while the prosecution was led by Zainab Muhammad Jabbo of the Kebbi State Ministry of Justice.
At trial, the prosecution presented 12 witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including the appellant’s extra‑judicial statement and circumstantial evidence.
The trial court relied on the doctrine of “last seen”, finding that the evidentiary record sufficiently established the appellant’s culpability.
The Court of Appeal agreed that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, while the appellant’s extra‑judicial statement was not treated as a direct confession, the court held that the essential ingredients of murder and grievous hurt were nonetheless established.
Accordingly, the appellate court affirmed death sentence by hanging under Section 191(b) of the Kebbi State Penal Code and a seven‑year term of imprisonment under Section 224(1) for causing grievous hurt.
Counsel to the appellant has filed a further appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, seeking to overturn the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
