Rebecca Emmanuel is a Nigerian woman sentenced to death on October 1, 2011 for poisoning her nine-year-old son, Ishaya Emmanuel, to deceive her new husband that she is a virgin. The sentence was commuted to life in prison on May 29, 2012.

Gov Shettima Changes Death Sentences To Life Imprisonment

SearchNigeria.net

May 30, 2012

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Wednesday commuted the death sentences on two convicted persons, Mrs Rebecca Emmanuel and Mr Zakaria Saman, to life imprisonment.

Malam Isa Gusau, Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri.

Gusau explained that the gesture was in line with the power of prerogative of mercy conferred on the governor by the constitution.

Gusau said that the action of the governor was based on the recommendation of the state's Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.

''Borno State Gov. Kashim Shettima has commuted the death sentences on two persons awaiting execution in Maiduguri.

''Mrs Rebecca Emmanuel and Mr Zakaria Saman were sentenced to death by a Maiduguri High Court for culpable homicide punishable with death under section 221 of the Penal Code,'' he said.

''The convicts who had been on awaiting execution list are now to face life imprisonment,'' he said.

Gusau said that 44 other inmates serving various jail terms in Maiduguri prisons were also freed.

He added that the wife of the governor, Mrs Nana Shettima offered to pay options of fines imposed on them to enable them regain their freedom.

''The 46 inmates had shown remorse by their conducts and Mrs Shettima was convinced that they will be good citizens,'' he said.

He expressed the readiness of the state government to rehabilitate and re-integrate them into the society.

Rebecca Emmanuel Sentenced To Death By Hanging

By Jetheights Jobs - NewsNigeriana.com

October 1, 2011

Emotions were high at High Court Number 10, Maiduguri, Borno State, northeast Nigeria today when Rebecca Emmanuel who was accused of poisoning her 9-year old son, Ishaya Emmanuel sometime in 2008 was sentenced to death by hanging.

Rebecca, mother of four who was earlier granted bail by the court and had consistently appeared at the court during her trial, could not get the sympathy of the trial judge Justice Pirogai Ngada who, while delivering her judgement said: “I agree that she has four children and has never absconded from bail but Section 221 of the law under which she is convicted is a mandatory provision of culpable homicide punishable by death. I wish I can temper justice with mercy. But I can’t because she is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”

On 20 January, 2008 Rebecca Emmanuel lured her son, Ishaya Emmanuel to a bush where she gave him a Maltina drink laced with poison which led to Ishaya’s death after which the convict burnt the corpse.

In one of her confessional statements during the trial, Rebecca had said: “I went to my father’s house and picked my child. We got to a place where I got a poisonous substance at the sum of N20 and matches. I took him to a bush and laced the substance in a bottle of Maltina.

“I made him drink it. After 30 minutes, the boy died and I set him ablaze, so that no one could recognise him and I left for my husband’s house.”

Delivering the judgement, the judge said she was satisfied by the confessional statement made by the accused person.

P.M.NEWS learnt that Rebecca Emmanuel had Ishaya out of wedlock. He was aid to be the product of an illicit relationship between Rebecca and a military officer.

She must have killed the boy because of the trauma she passed in the hand of the unknown military man.

As the matter is, it is not clear whether the convict will appeal the judgement.

Rebecca Emmanuel