Court Proceeding

"After hearing this case and being satisfied with the evidence presented before this honorable court, alongside the medical report confirming that Hauwa Sada is in her right mind—meaning she does not suffer from any mental health issues—the court has shown leniency toward Hauwa because she did not make the trial difficult, as she confessed to the crime she committed. The court sentences Hauwa to life imprisonment." Thud, thud! The judge struck the gavel, signaling the end of the case.
I was shedding tears profusely. The turmoil I was in at that moment cannot be described, nor can it be written for readers to understand. I looked at Aminu; his eyes were bloodshot. Truly, he was even more distressed than I was. My gaze shifted to my daughters, whose lives I have now tainted with a stigma that will never fade. On the side were my younger siblings, for whom I have been both mother and father, as we are orphans—even though they are all now married. I looked at my neighbors, with whom I had maintained good relationships.
"Is this life? Is my life going to end here in confinement, without any movement?" A female prison officer approached the small enclosure where I stood, my hands cuffed. She shoved me from behind with a stern scowl.
We descended with our heads bowed, surrounded by police officers in front and behind for security. I could hear the sounds of my relatives and loved ones crying, but I could not bring myself to look at them. My insides were trembling, which triggered a severe fever and dizziness that threatened to make me collapse. My chest felt heavier than anything else in my body; I had been experiencing this chest pain since this fate befell me, and I had never found relief from it.
As we reached the court exit, journalists swarmed in to do their jobs. The officer holding me paused. They started firing questions at me, and I did not even know where to begin answering.
"Please, have mercy; she is not in a condition to say anything right now. In the name of God, leave us alone so we can deal with our grief," said Aminu, the father of Mardiyya.
The officer pulled me to the vehicle that would transport me to the prison. Although I had spent five days in the prison while awaiting trial, I had been in the "waiting room," not the main facility. The waiting room is a long hall where offenders awaiting trial are kept.
My body and legs were shaking as I lifted my feet to enter the vehicle and sat down. I quickly looked up to get a final glimpse of my family. I saw Aminu in front, holding my daughter Mardiyya. He fixed his eyes on me with weakness and despair and said, "This is your fate, Hauwa. Be patient and keep seeking forgiveness; God is the listener of the cries of His servants and the one who answers prayers."
New tears poured out of me. I had truly lost Aminu and my children. It was certain I had left my family. The vehicle door was closed, and the driver pulled away from the court premises.

Aminu

He was only trying to be strong because he did not want to cry in front of his children, as it would break their hearts further. They were crying bitterly, and Hauwa’s relatives were consoling them. The journalists swarmed Aminu in their desperation to get the scoop. With great difficulty, they managed to leave the court and find transportation.

Jakara City, Kano:

A neighborhood for the common man, striving to earn a living and hide their secrets.

Hauwa’s Parents' House:

Men were sitting at the entrance of the house, receiving condolences; large mats were spread out, filled with neighborhood elders. As Baffa Junaidu saw Aminu’s tricycle approaching, he crossed over. Mardiyya and the others entered the house, which was also packed with women coming to pay their respects. Baffa Junaidu is the younger brother of Malam Sada, Hauwa’s father. He lived in the same row of houses.
"Aminu, how did the trial go, and what is the situation? Did they refuse Hauwa’s bail?" Aminu did not know what to say, as he had been suffering from a fever for seven days. He hadn't been able to close his eyes since he heard what Hauwa did. He was in such distress that his health was beginning to fail. He took a breath and said, "Baffa Junaidu, we did everything we could to ensure all necessary investigations were conducted. I followed the lawyer everywhere. But all evidence confirmed Hauwa committed the crime. She did not make the trial difficult; at the first hearing, she told the truth."
Baffa Junaidu’s voice trembled as he asked, "So, the death penalty was confirmed for her?" Aminu could only nod, his heart boiling.
"Innalillahi wa'innailaihir raji'un! Woe and misery upon this terrible act that girl has committed. She has thrown herself and all of us into distress. Honestly, this mourning gathering makes me feel ashamed because most of the people sitting here are gossips, and I feel embarrassed before our in-laws. Aminu, have patience; I see how this situation has shaken you more than us, her relatives. Even after what she did to you, you are still deep in her affairs."
A tear gathered in his eye. Aminu was a strong-willed, hardworking man. Distress did not often bring him to his knees, but Hauwa had shattered his strength completely.
"Baffa, I was thinking, should we go to the prison to visit her?" Baffa was silent for a moment before replying, "That is true, Aminu. We have no choice but to accept this fate. Let me call Jamila, who follows Hauwa, and we can all go together. Wait for me."

Inside the House

When Mardiyya and her siblings entered, eyes turned toward them, everyone staring. Jamila pulled Ummu and Nanne, their mother's younger sisters who had come from Maiduguri, into the back room to talk.
"Ummu, please dismiss these women who are here for the mourning gathering. Honestly, they are here for gossip, not condolences. They were insulting us before, let alone now," Hafsa said.
Nanne stood up to dismiss everyone. "In the name of God, every woman should go to her own home. We thank you for coming; may God reward you. The seventh-day prayers were already done at dawn. Please leave."
Some people started whispering insults, but eventually, they all dispersed. Baffa entered the room and told them the news of the life sentence. Everyone broke down in tears.

At Kurmawa Prison (Gidan D'an Kande):

The prison officer brought Hauwa inside. Three women were in line being questioned about their crimes. Despite the files containing their details, they were still required to state their crimes themselves.
Hauwa was assigned a block. She felt no peace of mind, as her heart was with Aminu and her children.

Block B:

Hauwa was taken to Block B. She was surprised to find the rooms open, not locked as she had imagined. She was introduced to the room leader, "Uwatale," who had been there for ten years. Hauwa, overwhelmed by grief and the shock of her new reality, became physically ill. She began shaking with fever and vomiting.
The prison officers, realizing she was seriously ill, contacted Aminu (via the number she provided) and rushed her to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital (referred to as Asibitin Malam Aminu Kano).

At the Hospital:

Aminu and the relatives arrived at the hospital in a state of desperation. The doctor informed them that Hauwa was suffering from high blood pressure, inflammation in the nerves behind her ear, and heart distress. He prescribed medication that was quite expensive. Aminu, despite his own deteriorating health, took the prescription and went to handle it, refusing Baffa’s suggestion to sell Hauwa’s jewelry, choosing to shoulder the burden himself.
The story ends with Baffa weeping, lamenting that Hauwa had destroyed herself, her family, and her in-laws.