In a landmark ruling, Amina Aliyu and Aishat Mohammed Aliyu have been sentenced to death by a High Court in Niger State for the gruesome murder of Hafsat Aliyu, a married woman. Their younger sister, Zainab, was spared the death penalty and sentenced to life imprisonment due to her age at the time of the crime.
The tragic event occurred in March 2021 at the family’s home in Barkin Saleh, Minna. Hafsat, who was both Amina’s co-wife and the spouse of Alhaji Muhammad Sani, met a violent end at the hands of the two sisters.
During the trial, the prosecution revealed that Aishat struck Hafsat with a pestle and later set her body ablaze in the kitchen. The case, which began at Minna Chief Magistrate Court Number One, was eventually moved to the High Court, where it was concluded after three years of legal proceedings.
Four witnesses testified in court, including Alhaji Sani, who recounted how Amina played a role in Hafsat’s death. Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf of Minna High Court 7 declared that the prosecution had successfully proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt. She emphasized, “The penalty for culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Penal Code is death.”
Peter Omale, the defence counsel, appealed for clemency on behalf of Zainab, stressing that she was a minor at the time of the crime. Justice Yusuf acknowledged this argument, stating, “The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) prohibits the death penalty for individuals under 18 as of the time the offence was committed in 2021.”
The verdict concludes a lengthy legal battle and has been described as a step toward justice for the victim and her family.
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