A High Court sitting in Gombe State has sentenced a 25-year-old man to death by hanging for killing his former wife after she rejected his request to remarry him.
The judgment was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Abdulhamid Mohammed-Yakubu of High Co man urt No. 2 in Gombe.
The convicted man, Hassan Mohammed, is from Falangaya village in Dukku Local Government Area.
He was found guilty of killing his former wife, Halimatu Sadiya-Adamu, during a violent attack that took place earlier in 2025.
According to the prosecution, the tragic incident occurred on March 25, 2025, at about 1 p.m.
The court heard that Hassan Mohammed allegedly attacked his former wife with a knife after she refused his request that they get married again.
Prosecutors told the court that the argument between the two quickly turned violent.
During the attack, the defendant reportedly slit the victim’s throat, leading to her death.
The case shocked many residents of the community and drew attention to issues of domestic violence and relationship conflicts.
The prosecution was led by the Director of Public Prosecution in the state, Abubakar Kungudo.
Kungudo told the court that the offence committed by the defendant violated Section 221 of the Penal Code Law, which deals with culpable homicide.
Under the law, anyone convicted of culpable homicide that is punishable by death may be sentenced to death.
During the trial, the prosecution presented six witnesses who gave testimony about what they saw or knew about the incident.
Kungudo said the witnesses provided detailed accounts of the events surrounding the attack.
“The prosecution presented six witnesses who testified before the court on what they saw at the scene of the incident,” he told the court.
The prosecution also presented the knife that was allegedly used during the attack as evidence.
When the charge was first read to him in court, Hassan Mohammed pleaded not guilty.
His lawyer, Habib Alkali, challenged the claims made by the prosecution during the trial.
Alkali cross-examined the six witnesses presented by the prosecution in an attempt to question their accounts of the incident.
After the prosecution concluded its case, the defence presented the defendant as the only witness for the defence.
During his testimony, Hassan Mohammed denied committing the crime.
However, prosecutors later cross-examined him about his statements and his account of the events that took place on the day of the incident.
After hearing the testimonies from both sides and reviewing the evidence presented during the trial, the court delivered its judgment.
Justice Mohammed-Yakubu said the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
In criminal trials, the prosecution must prove that the accused person committed the offence beyond reasonable doubt before a conviction can be secured.
The judge said the court carefully examined the evidence presented during the trial.
These included witness testimonies, exhibits presented before the court, the defendant’s confessional statement and the police investigation report.
“Having carefully considered the testimonies of the witnesses, the exhibits presented before the court, as well as the confessional statement of the defendant and the police investigation, the court finds the accused person guilty of culpable homicide,” the judge ruled.
After delivering the verdict, the judge pronounced the sentence according to the provisions of the law.
Justice Mohammed-Yakubu said the punishment for the offence under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law is death by hanging.
“The sentence of this court upon you, Hassan Mohammed, is death by hanging as provided under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law,” the judge declared.
The court concluded that the evidence before it clearly showed that the defendant killed his former wife after she rejected his request to remarry him.
Culpable homicide is one of the most serious criminal offences under Nigerian law.
In many northern states that operate under the Penal Code, a person convicted of culpable homicide punishable by death may face the death penalty.
Courts usually impose the sentence only after careful review of evidence and testimony presented during the trial.
However, the death penalty remains a subject of debate in Nigeria.
Some human rights groups have called for its abolition, arguing that life imprisonment should replace it.
Others believe it should remain in place as a deterrent against serious crimes such as murder.
Cases involving the killing of spouses or former partners have raised growing concerns among civil society groups and community leaders.
Domestic disputes, jealousy and relationship breakdowns are sometimes linked to violent attacks.
Advocates for women’s rights have repeatedly called for stronger awareness campaigns to address domestic violence and protect vulnerable individuals.
They say early intervention, counseling and community support can help prevent such tragedies.
Although the court proceedings focused on the legal aspects of the case, incidents like this often leave deep emotional scars on families and communities.
Residents of the area where the incident happened have expressed shock over the killing.
Community leaders say the tragedy highlights the importance of peaceful conflict resolution in relationships and families.
