A 30-year-old man, Ali Suleiman, has been remanded in custody by the Kano Magistrate Court over allegations that he killed his wealthy wife, Maryam Nababa Badamasi, less than two months after their wedding in order to inherit her property.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident reportedly happened in Kano State and came to light after Police investigations linked Suleiman to the death of his wife.
He was subsequently arrested and charged for culpable homicide under the Criminal Law of Kano State.
According to the prosecution, Suleiman allegedly plotted and carried out the murder to gain access to his wife’s wealth. The Prosecutor told the court that Maryam came from a well-to-do family, and her husband saw her death as the only way to take control of her assets.
The matter was heard before Magistrate Sadiya Zakirai at the Magistrate Court in Kano. The court was informed that the alleged act was premeditated and carried out shortly after the couple’s marriage.
Counsel for the prosecution, Aisha Habibu Hassan, told the court that the offence is capital in nature. She explained that if proven, it attracts either life imprisonment or the death penalty under state law.
Hassan requested time to seek further legal advice from the State Ministry of Justice, given the seriousness of the charge. She noted that the matter may need to be transferred to the High Court, which has jurisdiction over capital offences.
Magistrate Zakirai granted the request and ordered that Suleiman be remanded in custody pending the outcome of legal advice. The court adjourned the case for further mention.
The prosecution stressed that the case highlights the dangers of marriages entered into for financial gains rather than genuine partnership. They said the circumstances surrounding the death raised immediate suspicion.
Family members of the deceased, who were present in court, expressed shock and grief over the incident. They described Maryam as a young woman with a promising future whose life was cut short in tragic circumstances.
The court said it would await advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to determine whether the case should proceed at the High Court. If transferred, Suleiman will face trial on charges that could result in a life sentence or capital punishment if convicted.