Girl, 14, Faces Murder Trial Over Forced Marriage

Date: 04-08-2014 3:09 pm (9 years ago) | Author: ADEDIRAN
- at 4-08-2014 03:09 PM (9 years ago)
(m)
A 14-year-old girl accused of poisoning the 35-year-old man she was forced to marry was set to go on trial for murder in northern Nigeria on Monday, a case that has thrown the spotlight on the influence of Islamic law in region.

AFP reports that Wasila Tasi’u has also been charged with the murder of three others who allegedly ate the food laced with rat poison that she prepared and served in April this year, a week after her marriage to Umaru Sani.

Police say Tasi’u confessed to poisoning Sani and his guests at the wedding party in the village of Unguwar Yansoro village, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) outside Nigeria’s second city of Kano.

“She did it because she was forced by her parents to marry a man she did not love,” Kano state police spokesman Musa Magaji Majia told AFP.

Her lawyer Hussaina Aliyu rejects claims that her client made a legally valid confession.

She said Tasi’u was questioned by police without a parent or lawyer present and so any comments she may have made are inadmissable in court.

Aliyu, who works with International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), has sought to have the case transferred to a juvenile court, a bid rejected by justice officials in Kano.

“All we are saying is do justice to her. Treat the case as it is. Treat her as a child,” Aliyu said.

The marriage of teenage girls to much older men is rampant in deeply conservative, mainly Muslim northern Nigeria, especially in poorer rural areas.

The region has since 2000 been under sharia Islamic law which some say does not prohibit the marriage of underage girls.

But Nigeria’s federal, secular laws also apply in the north, creating a confusing hybrid legal system where sharia police try to work with government authorities to enforce criminal justice.

The issue of child marriage has been fiercely debated in Nigeria over the past year, sparked by a proposal from a northern lawmaker that any girl, regardless of her age, should be legally considered an adult once she is married.

That measure has not become law but the proposal was intensely criticised, including by activists in the mainly Christian south who say Nigeria should not permit any application of sharia, even in the north.

For Aliyu, the defence lawyer, this case is not a referendum on youth marriage in a Muslim society.

Rather, she argued, the primary issue is that criminal charges filed against a minor should be handled by a juvenile court.

“She is still a child,” the lawyer said.

source: http://www.ralphcrown.com/2014/08/girl-14-faces-murder-trial-over-forced.html

Posted: at 4-08-2014 03:09 PM (9 years ago) | Newbie
- chicco77 at 4-08-2014 05:32 PM (9 years ago)
(f)
free the girl
abeg
Posted: at 4-08-2014 05:32 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Reply
- 2bify at 4-08-2014 09:38 PM (9 years ago)
(m)
free the girl jor
Posted: at 4-08-2014 09:38 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply

fire TRENDING GISTS fire

TODAY'S TOP
  1. VIDEO: AY Makun Shares Video Of Renovated Mansion Months After Fire Accident

  2. Time To Tell The World - Primeboy Files Petition Against Mohbad's Widow, Wunmi Over Allegations

  3. Gospel Artist, Chinyere Udoma Mourns Loss as Fire Destroys Lagos Music Studio (Video)

  4. American Rapper, 50 Cent Faces Rap3 Accusations By Ex-girlfriend, Daphne Joy

  5. Peter Obi Meets Labour Party's Edo State Governorship Candidate, Olumide Akpata (Photos)

  6. Veteran Actor, Zack Orji Heads To UK For Post-Surgery Evaluation (Photos)

  7. “You No Go Pay”: Drama As Old Video Of Basketmouth Begging Wizkid For Free Promo Surfaces Onlin

  8. 'It Was All A Stunt' -Eniola Ajao Pleads Again, Begs Nigerians To Watch Her N200m Movie

  9. "I’ve Not Touched My N120M" - Ilebaye Odiniya Debunks Financial Struggles Rumors On Snapchat

  10. After Spending Two Years In Prison, Court Acquits 23-year-old Accused Of R*ping Girlfriend

  11. Former BBNaija Contestant, Deji Morafa Attains Pharmaceutical License In The U.S.

  12. Movie Star, Funke Akindele & Her Twin Kids In Dubai On Short Vacation

  13. Oxlade Raises Concerns About Treatment In Nigerian Music Industry

  14. Saudi Arabia Set To Make Debut In Miss Universe Pageant; To Be Represented By Rumy Alqahtani

  15. Pregnant Woman, Mmesoma Odili Loses Baby During Detention Over Land Dispute In Anambra

  16. 'You’re The Prettiest Woman In The World' - BBNaija's Angel Celebrates Mom On Her Birthday

  17. Kano Police Apprehend 22 Suspected Hoodlums, Declare 30 Others Wanted (Photos)

  18. Armed Robber Rap3s 20-yr-old Jigawa Housewife In Hubby's Presence After Stealing Bags Of Pepper

  19. Police Hand Over Wanted Delta Monarch Ogenerukeywe To Military

  20. Binance Faces $35.4 Million Money Laundering Charges: International Manhunt For Executives


THIS WEEK
  1. Russia President Putin Shocks Many As He Announces That Jesus And Mary Were Black

  2. Netizens React To Influencer, Enioluwa’s Alleged Leaked S*x Tape

  3. Kim Kardashian Finally Opens Up On Why She Divorced Kanye West

  4. Selena Gomez Shares Sexy Photo As She Put On A Very BUsty Display

  5. FAAN Shuts Down KFC Outlet At The Lagos Airport Over Discriminatory Treatment of Ex Gov's Son

  6. "Why I Broke Up With My Girlfriend When I Became A Star" – Singer, Asake

  7. 44Yr Old Bassirou Faye Wins Senegal's Presidential Election, Defeats 62Yr Old Ex Prime Minister

  8. Stop Harassïng Enioluwa, I'm The One in The Leaked S*x Tape - US P0rn Star, Briggs Speaks (VID)

  9. VID: 44yr Old Senegalese President-Elect Melts Hearts As He Flaunts His 2wives

  10. Davido's Daughter, Imade Is Now An Epitome Of Beauty, Netizens React To New Posts About Her


TOP MEMBERS: