by James Sambo

The 14-year-old Nigerian girl, Wasila Tasi’u accused of murdering her 35-year-old husband by putting rat poison in his food played dumb at Gezawa High Court, Kano, on Thursday.

Tasi’u refused to answer when asked if she understood the charges, all through the trial, she uttered no words.

The case was adjourned for 30 minutes so the charges could be better explained to the defendant, but when the alleged offences were read again Tasi’u stayed silent, turned her head to the wall and broke down in tears.

“The court records (that) she pleads not guilty,” Judge Mohammed Yahaya said, apparently regarding her silence as equal to a denial of the charges and adjourned the case until November 26.

The presiding judge adjourned the matter to November 26 and 27 to continue hearing and also ordered that the suspect be returned to the remand home.

Activists have called for Tasi’u’s immediate release, saying she should be rehabilitated as a victim and noting the prospect that she was raped by the man she married.

Sola