Child bride aged 14 faces execution for killing 35-year-old husband with rat poison

Nigeria: A child bride has 'admitted' murdering her 35-year-old husband with rat poison, Nigerian police say.

But, according to officers, 14-year-old Wasila Tasi'u had to sign the confession with her thumbprint because she couldn't read it.

If she is found guilty, she could become the first child to be executed in Nigeria for 18 years, but human rights campaigners said she should be seen as a victim of abuse.

Her husband, farmer Umar Sani, was found dead just days after marrying her in April.

The teenager is from an impoverished and deeply conservative Muslim family who live in northern Nigeria, where child marriage and polygamy are widespread.

The case has been met with mixed reactions in Kano, her hometown, where Sharia law is in place alongside government laws.

Some followers claim Sharia allows children to be married.

Gezawa High Court overflowed with people wanting to witness the murder trial yesterday.

In court, homicide investigator Abdullahi Adamu said he translated the girl's police statement from her native language, Hausa, into English - which she does not understand.

Despite not being able to read the confession, Wasila signed the document with a thumbprint, he told the court.

The farmer's second wife, Ramatu, took to the witness stand to tell the court how her "co-wife" prepared their husband dinner before being due to go to bed with him.

Ramatu said "after putting the food in the dish I didn't see anybody put anything in it," but she told the court she saw her husband foaming at the mouth and unable to walk later on.

A seven-year-old girl called Hamziyya, believed to by the teenager's sister and living in the same home, was allegedly sent to buy rat poison by Wasila, which was confirmed by shopkeeper Abuwa Yusuf.

Hamziyya told the court: "She said rats were disturbing her in her room."

Neighbour Abdulrahim Ibrahim told the court he shared some food with the farmer on the day of his death, but "was not comfortable with the taste," and "it was only Umar (Sani) who continued eating".

Hussaina Ibrahim from the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), representing the teenager, told The Guardian: "We are against the trial. The whole process violates her fundamental rights.

"The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says she should be in education. She should be in school."

A not guilty plea has been entered for the 14-year-old