Witchcraft accusation: Housewife charges 7 sisters, brother in-laws to Court


A Kaduna Upper Shari’a Court in Tudun Wada has adjourned till January 16, 2019 for hearing a case of defamation of character filed by a woman accused of witchcraft against her eight accusers. 
Dr Lawal Sule Abdullahi, who presided over the Upper Shari’a Court Tudun Wada, after hearing from counsels to both parties in the suit, adjourned till January 16 for further hearing and judgment. 
Malam Mohammed Suraju filed the case of defamation of character on behalf of her wife, Hadiza Abdullahi of Layin Kose, Tudun Wada, against her six sisters-in-laws, Amina Muhammed, Saratu Abubakar, Aisha Muhammed, Ramatu Muhammed, Zainab Haruna, Umma Jibrin and brother-in-law Dayyabu Muhammad all of Layin Kosé, Tudun Wada, Kaduna. 
According to the plaintiff, the defendants falsely accused her of being a witch without any proof, which she said is defamation of character according to Section 137 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The plaintiff also joined a Kano-based native doctor, Malam Hamisu Hussaini, as a co-defendant in the suit. 


Malam Hamisu was requested by Hadiza’s in-laws, the defendants, to attest to their allegation of her being a witch and the native doctor confirmed that through a voice note from Kano, he allegedly spoke to the spirit of the woman and their allegation was found to be true.   
The plaintiff urged the court to help seek reprieve from the defamation of her character, urging the court to clear her name and punish her accusers for maligning and defaming her name, integrity and character. She said her name is now being impugned in the society, as evident in cases where she have been accused of being responsible for illnesses that befell her neighbours, even when she knew nothing about such sicknesses.    


According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, Barrister Suleiman Lere, since they had all parties in court for the first time, it will be good if the judge can look at the case and resolve the issue finally on the next court day.


However, counsel to the defendants, Barrister Sadiq Garba noted that the whole issue is a family issue and they should be allowed to resolve the case among all the parties involved at home. 
Blueprint recalls that the case started in August 2018 at Shari’a Court 1, Bachama, Tudun Wada before it was transferred to Upper Shari’a Court Tudun Wada because the presiding judge at Shari’a Court 1 Tudun Wada, Suleiman Lere is the counsel for the complainant.

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