I did not stab my husband’s mistress’ 17-year-old son to death — Defendant tells court

A 36-year-old housewife, Rukayat Abdulkareem told an FCT High Court in Kubwa that she did not stab her husband’s mistress’ 17-year-old boy to death.

The police charged Abdulkareem with a one count charge of culpable homicide.

Being led in defence, by the defence counsel, Emmanual Ejiofor, the defendant said she lived with her husband and three children on Kaduna Road, in Kubwa, Abuja, when the incident happened in 2018.

“On Jan.10, 2018, my husband had a high fever and would branch to see our family nurse, Safiya Sani for treatment before heading to work.

“On the said day, I expected his phone call but did not hear from him and tried to reach the nurse but to no avail.

“I called his office to confirm if he was there but was told he had left, so I decided to confirm at the nurse’s place in Kubwa.

“When I got there at about 7 p.m, I saw my husband’s car parked outside the nurse’s house which is also attached to a clinic.

“I knocked at the gate and the nurse’s younger brother, opened the door and told me he was going to call my husband for me from the house.

“After five minutes nobody came so I knocked again and the nurse came out, we exchanged pleasantries and I asked for my husband but she said he was not in her house.

“I became confused because my husband ‘s car was parked in the house, so I raised an alarm and the nurse’s 17-year-old son came out of the house and hit me on my head,” she said.

She said that the minor accused her of insulting his mother and he brought out a knife.

“He tried to stab me and I dodged.  In the process the boy sustained injuries on his chest and a good samaritan helped me out of the house because I was bleeding from my nose and mouth as a result of the beating,” she said.

The defendant said the case was later transferred to the FCT Command and while she was taken for interrogation, an officer dragged her veil and asked her to sit on the floor, instructing her to write what he dictates.

“He threatened to hang  me if I did not admit to committing the crime and warned her not to make his job difficult,” she alleged.

The defendant’s statement made at the Kubwa Police Station on Jan. 12 , 2018 was tendered as exhibit and admitted.

While cross-examining the defendant, the prosecution counsel, Noel Omeji asked the defendant who stabbed the deceased and why the defendant was taken to the police station.

The defendant in response said that she does not know.

After listening to the testimony, Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya, adjourned the case until Nov. 2 for final address.

The police alleged that the defendant reportedly left her matrimonial home in Gauraka town, Abuja, trailed her husband, Usman, to his lover’s house at Gbazango Pipeline, Kubwa, at 10 p.m.

The police alleged that the defendant got into a fight with her husband’s alleged lover’s son and stabbed him to death.