Kano teenager who killed husband, 30 others released on state pardon

Abiodun OBA

The federal government has confirmed the pardon granted Rahma Hussein, a native of Kano, convicted of murder and 30 others from the Kano correctional centre.

A statement on Sunday by Umar Gwandu, spokesman to Justice Minister, said the Presidential Committee on Correctional Centres Reform and Decongestion visited the facility.

The team paid fines for inmates who were convicted of minor offences and also reviewed “peculiar cases”.

Nineteen were released after payment of fines by the Justice Ministry; 3 freed after payment by the Buni Yadi Foundation; 2 released after payment by Policy Vault Africa. Seven were freed due to old age.

Gwandu said the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) called the attention of committee chairman, Justice I. U. Bello (rtd) to Rahma’s case.

“Representatives of UNODC and Buni Yadi Foundation were also present to lend their voice and support to the release of Rahma”, the statement added.

In 2014, at the age of 16, Rahma the child bride, was charged with culpable homicide after killing her husband to protest her forced marriage.

She stabbed the deceased, Tijjani Basiru to death at the Darmanawa quarters in Tarauni Local Government Area.

Rahma was married off by her father. Three days later, as Tijjani attempted to get intimate, a struggle that ensued caused his demise.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has promised that the state government will support her rehabilitation process.

On October 30, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami inaugurated the Reforms and Decongestion committee.

The release of no fewer than 10,000 inmates has been facilitated by the presidential body.