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A High Court in Kano State has sentenced a newlywed woman, Saudat Jibril, to death by hanging after finding her guilty of killing her husband, Salisu Idris, just nine days after their wedding.

The verdict followed the conclusion of the trial, during which the court heard evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defence.

The incident occurred in May 2025 in Farawa, a community in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, where the couple had been married for only nine days before the husband was killed.

The prosecution, led by Barrister Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, counsel to the Kano State Government, called three witnesses in support of its case.

The defence counsel, Barrister Abdulfatah Muhammad, presented Saudat Jibril as the sole witness in her defence.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Maryam Sabo held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and accepted the evidence presented by the prosecution while rejecting the defendant’s testimony.

“The court finds the defendant guilty as charged and hereby sentences her to death by hanging,” Justice Sabo ruled.

Following the judgment, correctional service officials escorted Saudat Jibril from the courtroom to begin serving her sentence, pending any appeal.

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Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign team, the Imole Campaign Council, TICC, has accused the Osun State Police Command of plotting to influence the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

The council also alleged that the recent arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, was politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the campaign council described the operation as a reckless abuse of authority and claimed it reflected what it called the police command’s partisanship ahead of the election.

“The Osun Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, had departed from its constitutional responsibility of maintaining law and order and had instead become involved in political activities.

“The arrest of Igbalaye and others was part of an attempt to remove key Accord leaders and mobilisers from the political scene before the governorship poll.

” We reject allegations linking the arrested individuals to criminal activities.

“The unlawful raid on the home and arrest of the SSG, Hon. Igbalaye, has proven our concerns right. Attempts by the police to portray the arrested officials as criminals is nothing but a comical relief hurriedly put up to whitewash a terrible policing job,” the campaign team said.

TICC argued that any police watch list remained an internal security document unless an individual had been officially declared wanted.

It described references to such a list in relation to Igbalaye as “irresponsible and a brazen act of blackmail”.

The campaign council also challenged the police’s interpretation of electoral laws, insisting that the Electoral Act 2026 did not support allegations of vote buying more than two weeks before an election.

It maintained that the section of the law cited by the police applied specifically to election day.

On the issue of the reported ₦4.8 million recovered during the operation, the council argued that there was no legal prohibition against possessing such an amount.

It claimed that the sum was below the threshold specified under the Money Laundering Act for individuals.

According to TICC, the funds were intended to cover logistics, including transportation costs for Accord mobilisers attending a political meeting. Possession of the voters’ register did not constitute an electoral offence because the register is publicly available to all participating political parties.”

The statement alleged that suspected APC supporters had recently invaded collation centres in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, and Akarabata in Ile-Ife, carting away Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs.

It claimed that the incidents were acknowledged during a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo but alleged that the police had failed to act against those responsible.

“We urge the Osun Police Command to note that it is not a political party nor an arm of the APC, but a public institution funded by taxpayers’ money. Accord members are being subjected to harassment and intimidation without legal justification,” it stated.

The campaign council called on the police authorities to release Igbalaye and the other detained individuals immediately.

“Democracy should be about the contest of ideas, not the rule of force, and the Police should know that its job is strictly law enforcement, not forcing leadership choice on the people.”

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has assured residents that all ongoing infrastructure projects awarded by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will be completed before the end of the year, expressing confidence in the contractors handling the various road projects across the capital city.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday after inspecting the ongoing construction of the extension of Collector Road CO1 linking Nile University area in the Institution and Research District with Lugbe, Abuja and the Arterial Road N1, from Wuye District to Ring Road II, Abuja on Thursday, Wike said the Tinubu administration remained committed to delivering every project it had initiated, insisting that no road project would be abandoned.

“What should concern you is whether there is any project we have started and abandoned. Look at even the projects that were awarded since 2010. We have tried to see that all are completed, and the ones that this administration has awarded will also be completed,” the minister said.

He added: “I don’t want to be pessimistic. I’m very optimistic that all the roads that we have gone for inspection, after the commissioning and flag-off, will also be done. As far as I’m concerned, latest by the end of this year.”

Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the Research and Institution Avenue, which will link Lugbe, being executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), despite initially expressing concern over the volume of work still outstanding.

“I have faith. There are companies that, when they give you their word and you also play your own part, they always fulfil. CCECC is a company that is doing the road at the Research and Institution Avenue,” he said.

“With what I saw today, I can tell you comfortably that if we complete that project, I can beat my chest and go home and say I’m happy. The administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has succeeded in providing the basic infrastructure that has transformed Abuja into the city it is supposed to be.”

The minister also commended Arab Contractors for the quality of work on another major road project, recalling that when the present administration assumed office in August 2023, the contractor handling the Airport Road to Kuje project had yet to mobilise to site.

According to him, discussions with stakeholders revealed that Arab Contractors was responsible for the project, after which the company committed to completing it as part of activities marking President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.

“Today, you can agree with me that it is one of the best quality roads you can talk about in Abuja. They are the ones now doing this road, and look at the quality of the job,” he said.

“The Managing Director, who is here with us, has assured us they will do their own part, while we will also fulfil our obligations. By the grace of God, we will hand over this project to Mr. President in December.”

Wike attributed the progress on ongoing projects to the mutual trust between the FCTA and its contractors, noting that several companies continued executing projects even before receiving full payments because they were confident the administration would honour its commitments.

“They have never disappointed us. That’s why most companies, even if we have not done our own part, still go ahead because they know that, at the end of the day, we will fulfil our obligation. That trust is there between us and these companies,” he said.

The minister described himself as “highly elated” by the quality of construction witnessed during the inspection, arguing that the transformation taking place in the nation’s capital was evident to residents and visitors alike.

“I can tell you I am highly elated with the level of work, the level of construction and the quality that we have seen. Every right-thinking person in this country and in this city will agree that indeed the President’s administration has transformed Abuja into a world-class city,” he stated.

He also urged the media to objectively report the progress recorded by the administration, saying journalists who had inspected the projects could independently attest to the changes taking place across the Federal Capital Territory.

“People are happy, and I believe that even you, the media, can attest to it. Even if we are not there, you become our ambassadors to say, ‘We have gone, we have seen, and we can attest to the fact that things have changed,’” Wike said.

Responding to questions on the ongoing bridge project around the Jabi axis, the minister urged residents to remain patient, reiterating that every project initiated by the administration would be completed.

“I know you have interest in one of these particular projects, but just be patient. Everything will be done,” he assured.