Kebbi State High Court 6, presided by Hon. Justice Maryam Abubakar-Kaoje, on Monday, sentenced one Jamilu Abdullahi to life imprisonment for the rape of an eight- year- old deaf-mute minor.
The Prosecution Counsel, Barrister Zainab Jabbo, in her submission, said the convict, who faced one count charge of rape, perpetrated the act at Dan-Warai Village in Aliero Local Government Area of the state.
” She was accosted by the convict, who lured her into an uncompleted building and had carnal knowledge of her,” she said.
Barrister Zainab Jabbo prayed the court to convict the defendant as charged, because the law imposed mandatory sentence.
The offence of rape is punishable under Section 210 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.
The prosecution called five witnesses, and tendered exhibits in support of her case.
In his defence, the Defendant Counsel, Bashar Zakari, called the convict to give evidence and testify in his defence without tendering any document or exhibit.
The defence counsel prayed the court to temper justice with mercy to the defendant during allucotus.
In her judgment, Hon . Justice Maryam Abubakar-Kaoje, pronounced that the court found the defendant guilty of the charge.
She said that the prosecution had established all the ingredients of defilement through confessional statement, evidence of eye witness and circumstantial evidence.
Justice Kaoje, while describing the offence as “heinous and “reprehensible,” noted that the defendant had taken advantage of the victim’s vulnerability and betrayed the trust of the community in perpetrating the act.
” Having found you guilty of the charge, you are hereby sentence as charged. As well you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for finding you guilty of defilement of an eight-year- old child.
“This punishment will serve as a deterrent to others who may contemplate committing similar crime,” the judge said.
