High Court 1 in Minna presided by Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, has sentenced one Stephen Jiya, to death by hanging for the killing of his biological mother, Mrs. Comfort Jiya.
It would be recalled that Mrs. Comfort Jiya, a former Principal of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Sabon Wuse and Maryam Babangida Girls’ Science College, Minna, died after she was set ablaze by her middle-aged biological son, Stephen Jiya.
It was gathered that the deceased was in her kitchen at her residence in Darusalam Area of Minna, when her son, reported to be a drug addict, returned from Suleja on Monday December 20, 2021, and poured petrol on her before lighting her up in flames.
The deceased was rushed to the General Hospital Minna by neighbors and later taken to another medical facility where she passed on.
The state Criminal Intelligence Department (SCID) of the Police Command waded in and arrested Stephen Jiya. Stephen confessed to have committed the crime, in the claims that his mother was always meddling in his marital affairs.
Earlier, Stephen was arraigned before a magistrate court by the SCID operatives on provisional charges while awaiting legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for proper legal action in a competent court.
He was formally charged by the DPP on September 14, 2022, before Justice Halima Abdulmalik of High Court 1, under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law which provides a death penalty if found guilty. The hearing commenced on November 22, 2022 presided by Justice Abdulmalik.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Serah Gana had prayed the Court to prosecute Stephen in line with the provision of Section 221 of the penal code which attracts the death penalty. Delivering her ruling on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, the CJ stated that the convict was found guilty of culpable homicide punishable under section 221 of the penal code law which attracts death penalty.
In her submission, Justice Halima Abdulmalik said that the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased evidently showed that the convict was certainly responsible for the crime levelled against him as provided by the Prosecutor.
Justice Halima also said that all the evidence and prosecuting witnesses who testified before the court were able to prove that the convict was responsible for the killing of his biological mother, Mrs. Comfort Jiya. A total of six witnesses including two members of his family and his younger sister testified against Stephen during the trial.
Speaking in an emotionally laden voice, Justice Halima Abdulmalik asked the convict, “What do you have to say before I pass my sentence on you”?
The convict however pleaded for mercy saying that he is a family man with a wife and children and that he should be given a second chance. He promised to be a better person while pleading for God,s mercy on him. Stephen asked Justice Halima Abdulmalik to temper justice with Mercy on him.
Meanwhile, in her judgement which lasted for over one hour, Justice Halima Abdulmalik stated that her hands were tied because the punishment for culpable homicide as stipulated by law is death.
“In the circumstances, the sentence of the Court upon you is that you should be hanged by the neck, electrocuted, executed or injected with lethal injection until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul,” the Chief Judge added.
