Yobe High Court Sentences Abubakar Musa to Death by Hanging for Killing Wife in Damaturu
A Yobe State High Court sitting in Damaturu has sentenced a 45-year-old man, Abubakar Musa, popularly known as Daddy, to death by hanging for the killing of his wife, Ammi Adamu Mamman.
Musa was arrested on January 4, 2024, following his wife’s death at New Bra-Bra Estate in Damaturu. He was subsequently charged with culpable homicide, according to media reports.
The then Police Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State Command, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, said the incident occurred at about 4:48 a.m. on January 4, after the ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters in Damaturu received a distress call.
According to Abdulkarim, the couple were on the same bed when Mamman was allegedly attacked with a sharp object on the neck, resulting in severe bleeding that led to her death.
He said Musa was arrested for questioning, while the homicide unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The case was subsequently heard at High Court 1 in Damaturu, where the judge reportedly ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt before sentencing Musa to death by hanging.
Mamman’s death sparked mourning within the Yobe State University community, where she worked as a staff member.
In a February 2024 newsletter, the university said its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mala Mohammed Daura, expressed sadness over her death and urged security agencies to ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
The institution described her death as a loss to the university community. According to the newsletter, Mamman was buried in Potiskum on January 9, 2024.
The Women-led Civil Society Organizations Network in Yobe State also condemned the killing and called for justice. In a statement issued shortly after the incident, the network identified Mamman as a volunteer with one of its member organisations.
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, also extended condolences to the deceased’s family and called on security agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding her death. He assured the family that anyone found responsible would face the law.
Meanwhile, a lawyer quoted in media reports said Musa retained the right to appeal the judgment within the period prescribed by law.
