A Minna Senior Magistrate court No. 4, has Sentenced a 52 years old man to thirty years behind the Correctional Centre for sexually molesting a minor.
The presiding Senior Magistrate, Christy Barau who handed down the sentence held that the sentence is to serve as a deterrent to the convict and his cohorts.
Shehu was arraigned by gender and children protection unit of the State Criminal investigation and Intelligence Department led by SP Duyilemi Olubunmi (SCIID) of the Niger State Police Command for unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.
He was charged on First Information Report (FIR), number CMC/MN/ CR/54/2023 under sections 26 (2), section (1c) and (2) with section 22 of Niger State Child Rights and Protection 2021.
According to the Police Prosecutor Inspector Godwin Adams one Shaibu Suleiman of Kuchito area of Suleja reported at the A’ Divisional Police command that the convict of the same address lured his thirteen years old daughter a JSS one student in his room and had sexual intercourse with her.
“As a result she became pregnant and a medical examination revealed that the pregnancy is six weeks. Police detectives swung into action and arrested Shehu Usman. During police Investigation the Victim identified you as the person who took her to your room.”
During the trial, the Police Prosecutor called three witnesses and tendered a medical report as well as the testimony of the victim which the court admitted as evidence.
While passing her Judgment, Senior Magistrate Christy Barau held that the Prosecutor has proved the case of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child against the convict and he is convicted accordingly.
The defence counsel to the convict, Barrister Abdullahi Ahmed, pleaded for leniency on his behalf and told the court that the convict was a first offender, hence, the Judge should temper justice with mercy.
The Judge told the counsel that his plea for leniency on behalf of the convict has been taken into consideration but cannot go unpunished.
“The plea for leniency by counsel has been taken into consideration. However, he cannot go unpunished to serve as a deterrent to him and the society at large.
“As this offense of sexual intercourse with minors is on the increase in the society and has become a menace in the society. The justice system has to do its part by punishing perpetrators and accord justice to victims.
“This can only be done by taken away perpetrators of this heinous crime from the society in order to have a safe society for children. You are hereby sentenced to thirty years behind Correctional Custody with N400,000 awarded to the victim”, she held.
