Kano Court Sentences Woman to Death for Kidnapping, Murder of 8-Year-Old Girl

A Kano State High Court has sentenced a housewife, Fadila Adamu, to death by hanging for the kidnapping and murder of an eight-year-old girl whom she threw into a well, leading to the child’s death.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Yusuf Muhammad-Ubale ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, convicting Adamu of kidnapping and culpable homicide.

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

Prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, told the court that the incident occurred on July 14, 2019, at Tudun Wada Quarters, Kano. He explained that Adamu kidnapped the girl around 4:45 p.m. and took her to her residence at Sabuwar Gandu Quarters.

According to the prosecution, Adamu deceived her sister by claiming the child was the daughter of a friend who had traveled to Ghana, requesting that she be kept until her alleged mother returned.

Three days later, on July 17, 2019, around 6:30 p.m., Adamu reportedly threw the child into a deep well in Tukuntawa Quarters, Kano, leading to her death.

The prosecution presented seven witnesses, including Adamu’s statements and a medical report confirming the minor’s death.

Despite denying the crime, Adamu and her defense counsel, Zulaihat Tata, called four witnesses in her defense. However, the court ruled that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.