Stephen Jiya, a middle-aged man, was sentenced to death by hanging in a Minna High Court 1 presided over by Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, the Chief Judge of Niger State, for the murder of his biological mother, Mrs. Comfort Jiya.
Remember that the deceased was a former principal of Maryam Babangida Girls’ Science College in Minna and Government Girls’ Secondary School in Sabon Wuse. She passed away after Stephen set her on fire.
Comfort was in her kitchen at her residence in Darusalam Area of Minna, when her son, said to be a drug addict, returned from Suleja on Monday December 20, 2021, and poured petrol on her before lighting her up.
She was rushed to the General Hospital Minna by neighbours and later transferred to another medical facility where she succumbed to her injuries.
Stephen was arrested by the state Criminal Intelligence Department (SCID) of the Police Command and confessed to the crime, claiming that his mother usually intruded into his marital affairs.
Jiya was earlier arraigned before a magistrate court by the SCID operatives on provisional charges while awaiting legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for proper prosecution in a competent court.
The DPP formally charged him on September 14, 2022, before Justice Halima Abdulmalik of High Court 1, under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law which provides a death penalty if found guilty.
The hearing commenced on November 22, 2022, and Justice Abdulmalik.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Serah Gana had prayed to the Court to prosecute him in accordance with the provision of Section 221 of the penal code which attracts the death penalty.
Delivering her ruling on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, the CJ said the convict was found guilty of culpable homicide punishable under section 221 of the penal code law which attracts the death penalty.
Justice Halima Abdulmalik in her submission said that the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased clearly showed that the convict was undoubtedly responsible for the crime levelled against him as established by the Prosecutor.
She also said that all the evidence and prosecuting witnesses who testified before the court were able to prove that the convict was responsible for the killing of his biological mother, Mrs. Comfort Jiya.
A total of six witnesses including two members of his family an his younger sister testified against him during the trial.