A Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has sentenced Fatima Abubakar to life imprisonment for killing her husband, Goni Abba, by poisoning his drinking water. Justice A. B. Kumalia delivered the judgment on Friday, November 28, 2025, after finding Fatima guilty of culpable homicide, according to reports from Daily Trust.
The incident, which shocked residents in Maiduguri, occurred on October 19, 2022. Fatima, a mother of two, allegedly bought rat poison from Monday Market and administered it to her husband under the guise of a traditional remedy for rheumatism. Shortly after consuming the substance, Goni Abba fell seriously ill and was rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where he later died.
Fatima reportedly admitted to newsmen that she committed the act because she was tired of the marriage and has always disliked being in close proximity to men. She explained that her feelings toward men had caused significant tension in both her first and second marriages. Goni Abba was her second husband, and she said she had separated from her first marriage because of her aversion to men.
Although Fatima initially pleaded guilty during her arraignment, the court entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf since the original charge of murder carried the death penalty. During the trial, the prosecution called seven witnesses, including medical personnel who confirmed that the cause of death was poisoning. The court also admitted Fatima’s confessional statements in which she detailed how she deliberately mixed the poison into her husband’s drinking water.
Fatima’s defense claimed she was possessed by evil spirits at the time of the act, but the court rejected this argument due to lack of medical evidence. Justice Kumalia ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven all three elements of culpable homicide: that a death occurred, that it was caused by the accused, and that the act was intentional.
The presiding judge convicted Fatima under Section 224 of the Penal Code. While the original charge under Section 221 carried the death penalty, the Section 224 conviction allowed for significant mitigation, leading to a life imprisonment sentence.
Speaking to newsmen after her arrest, Fatima revealed her repeated attempts to secure a divorce through her parents, who reportedly refused to support her and sent her back to her husband’s home. She recounted that two months after giving birth, she ran away and lived in an uncompleted building for about two weeks before returning to the household. She emphasized that her actions were not motivated by quarrels or abuse in the marriage, but by her personal aversion to men. She said, “Not that he did not treat me well. We were not quarrelling. I just hate when any man comes near me. Even now that I am speaking to you, I do not really feel that I was the one who killed him.”
In her plea for mercy, Fatima highlighted her role as a mother of two and expressed remorse for her actions. Her legal counsel urged the court to consider that she was a first-time offender and had no prior criminal record.
The life imprisonment sentence marks the conclusion of a case that has drawn national attention due to its shocking motive, the nature of the act, and the confessions made by the accused. The case has also sparked discussions about domestic relations, mental health, and the challenges faced by women in troubled marriages in Nigeria.
The court’s decision emphasizes that intentional acts leading to death will attract severe legal consequences, regardless of the personal circumstances or claims of remorse presented by the accused.
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