Niger woman and her sister sentenced to death for brutal murder of her co-wife

Friday, January 17, 2025 - A Minna High Court in Niger State on Wednesday, January 16, sentenced a woman, Amina Aliyu and her sister, Aishat Mohammed to d3ath by hanging for the brutal k!lling of her co-wife, Hafsat Fatima Aliyu (pictured). 

Zainab, the youngest sibling, received life imprisonment due to her age at the time of the crime.

Amina and Aishat were convicted of m8rdering Hafsat, who was the second wife of their husband, Alhaji Muhammad Sani. 

The incident occurred in March 2021 at the family residence in Barkin Saleh, Minna about seven weeks after the deceased got married to Alhaji Sani.

According to the prosecution, Aishat attacked Hafsat with a pestle before setting her body on fire in the kitchen.

The trial began at Minna Chief Magistrate Court Number One before being transferred to the High Court.

During the proceedings, which spanned three years, four witnesses testified, including Sani, who recounted how Amina k!lled Hafsat.

Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf of Minna High Court 7 confirmed the prosecution had proven its case beyond doubt, stating, “The punishment for culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Penal Code is death."

 Peter Omale, the defence counsel, urged leniency for Zainab, highlighting her status as a minor at the time of the crime.Justice Yusuf concurred, ruling, “As of 2021, when the offence was committed, the ACJA excluded anyone below 18 from facing the death penalty."