Family insist that ritualist murdered new bride 12 days after wedding

Late Aisha Isa Fagge was a new bride, with a 12-day-old marriage, when she was brutally murdered by yet-to-be identified person(s) in August 2015. Five months after the shocking incident, circumstance that led to her death remain unknown.

Late Aisha, 20, was killed in her matrimonial home in Sharada Ja’en Quarters, Kano, found dead in her sitting room around 1:00pm when most residents in the area had gone for congregational Juma’at prayers.

Alhaji Nura Muhammad, the deceased’s husband told police that he found her lifeless body in the sitting room, with both of her hands tied with a rope. He explained that he had spoken with her on the phone around 10:00am and everything seemed fine, so when he got home and knocked on the door and got no response, he became worried. “A neighbour, Rabi’u Abdulkadir, joined me and we broke down the door, and entered the house to find Aisha dead,” he narrated.

But the incident has been riddled with various and varying versions. While police say the murder was carried out by defilers, the victim’s family insists the murder was purely ritual. A family source told Daily Trust that the women who performed the cleansing ritual on late Aisha’s corpse did not see any signs of r*pe. “She was found fully-clothed with no sign of struggle or assault. Only her husband, Nura, can shed true light, as he was the first person on the murder scene,” said the source.

But Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Magaji Musa Majia said: “Late Aisha was found dead, Unclad with her two hands tied with a rope, suggesting that she was defiled before killed.” He added that police had during investigation discovered some bloodstains and Fluid on Abdulzahir Muhammad Saminu, one of the two suspects arrested. Saminu is the groom’s friend, while the other suspect is Rabi’u Abdulkadir, a neighbor.”

The suspects were later arraigned before a Shari’ah court at Rijiyar-Lemo for a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder contrary to sections 221 and 145 of Kano State Shari’ah Law 2000.

In a twist, when the case came up last Monday for continuation, the deceased’s husband Nura Muhammad, was also arrested on the premises of the court as requested by the prosecution counsel Barrister Lamido Abba Soron-Dinki. “We have strong evidence that Nura had a hand in the murder of late Aisha,” he said.
Soron-Dinki said three more witnesses will testify during the next court session.
Confirming the arrest, the PPRO DSP Majia, said Nura is being interrogated at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the command.

Earlier during the court session, Nura Muhammad as first prosecution witness, told the court that all he knew was that the two accused persons Saminu and Abdulkadir went to his house and his late wife informed them that he (Nura) was not around. However, while being taken to a vehicle parked at the premises of the court, Muhammad told newsmen: “Even if one of the two accused persons is my friend does not mean I am party to the murder of my late wife. Why on earth would I kill my own wife?”

Alhaji Isa Fagge, late Aisha’s father, told Daily Trust on the phone that he was shocked by his daughter’s death, new of which he got while at work when his son Aminu called him. “I’ve left everything to God. I have lost her and she will never come back again.” He added that since the police have taken over the case, he hopes justice will prevail.

Some residents of Sharada Ja’en spoke to Daily Trust, expressing concern. One of them, Ibrahim Muhammad, said: “We hope the police get the actual killers,” he said. Another resident, Abubakar Ashiru, said: “We have never experienced this kind of incident in this area, so it’s shocking.”

The presiding judge of Shari’ah Court Rijiyar-Lemo, Alkali Atiku Bello, adjourned the case till February 11, 2016.

Source: Daily Trust