In a shocking turn of events, a young individual, Stephen Jiya, has received a death sentence in Niger State. The reason for this severe punishment is the horrifying act of causing his own mother's death, Comfort Jiya.
The presiding authority, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, declared Stephen guilty of culpable homicide. This offence falls under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law and carries the maximum penalty of death.
Stephen was brought before the court by the Attorney General's Office of the Niger State Ministry of Justice. The charge was the murder of his mother, Comfort Jiya, who had retired from her position as a director in the State Ministry of Education. This tragic incident occurred in December 2021.
Comfort Jiya, who had served as the Principal of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Sabon Wuse and Maryam Babangida Girls’ Science College, Minna, met her untimely end on Monday, December 20, 2021. The cause of her death was a fire set by her son, Stephen.
Justice Abdulmalik, in her verdict, stated that the prosecution had successfully established its case beyond any reasonable doubt. She said, "The prosecutor has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant, and I hereby find you, Stephen Jiya, guilty of the offence of culpable homicide, which is contrary to Section 221 of the penal code.
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, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul."