Kano Child Bride: Court Rejects Motion To Drop Murder Charges
A Court in Kano on Tuesday rejected a motion to have murder charges against child bride, Wasila Tasi’u, accused of killing her husband and three of his friends, dismissed, saying there was enough evidence for the case to proceed.
Wasila Tasi’u was 14 when she married Umar Sani, 35, in Nigeria’s deeply conservative, mainly Muslim north last year, and could face the death penalty if convicted of using rat poison to kill him.
“I am of the opinion that there is a case against the accused,” High Court Judge Mohammed Yahaya said. “As such, I overrule the submission of no-case from the defence counsel.”
Tasi’u’s lawyers had argued that the state failed to establish her intent to kill Sani and questioned the reliability of a key prosecution witness.
The witness, a seven-year-old girl named Hamziyya who was identified as the sister of Sani’s other wife, testified that Tasi’u gave her money to buy the poison on April 5 last year, the day Sani died.
The defence said that relying on testimony from a minor contravened Nigeria’s Evidence Act and that the state’s case should therefore be thrown out.
The murder trial has highlighted the range of attitudes towards child marriage in Nigeria, especially in the impoverished north.
The families of both the deceased and the accused have rejected claims that she was forced to marry a man more than twice her age, noting that 14 was an appropriate age to marry and that Tasi’u chose Sani from a range of suitors.
Some locals have called for Tasi’u to face stiff punishment to discourage other girls from taking similar action if they become unhappy in their marriage. However, rights activists have demanded that Tasi’u be rehabilitated as a victim of a forced marriage, which likely included incidents of rape.
Laws regarding both sexual and marital consent are complex in northern Nigeria, given the coexistence of both secular and Islamic law, creating contradictions in the justice system.
Tasi’u has remained largely stoic through her appearances in court so far, crying when charges were first read against her, but otherwise sitting silently, often with her head bowed.
On Tuesday she stood quietly in the dock, with her head fully covered in a sky-blue hijab.
Sani died after eating food that Tasi’u allegedly prepared for a meal to celebrate their marriage. Three others who reportedly ate the food also died, but prosecutors have combined the three deaths into a single murder charge.
The state has concluded its case and following Tuesday’s ruling the defence was instructed to move forward with its own evidence when the trial resumes on April 29.
Source: AFP
Message.. Yea I remember ds story. 14yrs? Dats child abuse nah hnmmm God help her
Hmmmmmmmmmm
They should have mercy on the poor girl.What she did was bad but what was done to her was also bad
So this case is still on na wa oh. She’s a child not a bride. I don’t blame her even if found guilty. Why marry a 14years old out? And then to someone almost thrice her age. Some people need to wake up please.
Poor girl. Her parents should be blamed for marrying her off at the tender age of 14. I pray the have mercy on her sha.
child abuse. she is not up to 18 for Christ sake. hmmmmmmmm.
This child abuse has to stop once and for all
Hmmmmmm
These northeners should stop this abuse on the girl child, they should be wise and get out of this stupid olden days ideas. Allow your daughters to go to school and become somebody instead of marrying them out as child brides. Hiaaa
They should pardon her, the parent should be held responsible for marrying her off too early
child abuse
Hmmm… They should let the poor child be pls.. It’s all her parents fault.
These northeners should stop marrying their child out..why not send her to school atleast up to WAEC..its a pity I hope they drop ths case and let the poor girl be..let them take her to rehabilitation center.
They should pardon her, her parent should be held responsible for marrying her off too early.
Poor girl
Its well oooooo. May God help her and see her through.
Did she really do it???? Even if she didn’t the community has already judged her
Even if she is found guilty,l wont blame her.She wouldnt have done that if she was happy in d marriage.14yrs old?hmmmm
Same tin most pple would have done in dis case
serious child abuse
This babaric childs marriage should be abolished
They should leave the girl alone. If she wasn’t forced into the marriage all this wouldn’t have happened