Child-bride Kills Husband with Rat Poison

A 14-year-old girl has been charged with murdering her husband, Umar Sani, days after their marriage in Kano State.

The 14-year-old girl testified to a packed Kano State High Court  yesterday and admitted to killing her 35-year-old husband with rat poison.

Homicide investigator Abdullahi Adamu translated her statement from the Hausa language because she does not understand English.

She had to use thumbprint to sign a police confession and because she cannot write.

Also called to stand was Tasi'u's co-wife, identified as Ramatu.

The co-wife testified that they both got along well and that two of them prepared the food together on April 5, the day Sani died.

She added that Tasi'u was also entitled to serve his meal because it was her turn to share bed with Sani.

“After putting the food in the dish, I did not see anybody put anything in it,” Ramatu said.

She said her husband was later helped back to the house by a neighbour, unable to walk and foaming at the mouth.

Nigeria is not known to have executed a juvenile offender since 1997 according to Human Rights Watch.

The trial has been adjourned until February 16, 2015.