JIGAWA HIGH COURT SENTENCES RAPIST TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT, ACQUITS 5 OTHERS ARRAIGN FOR SODOMY, CULPABLE HOMICIDE, CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY.
High Court of Justice Jigawa State sitting in Hadejia, presided by Justice Ado Yusuf has found one Sa’idu Zakar from Bayi Quarters in Hadejia local government, guilty for the offence of Rape.
The facts of the case were that, on 19th May 2019 the defendant was said to have taken an 11-year-old-girl (name withheld) to his horse room and raped her. The defendant was later arrested by the police and charged to court.
Proving the case before the honorable court, the prosecution called 5 witnesses and tendered 3 exhibits and closed its case. While the defendant testified in his defence as a sole witness and close its case.
The court while delivering its judgment held that the prosecution had proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt, thereby convicted and sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment for the offence of Rape.
Honourable Justice Ado Yusuf in another judgment discharged and acquitted a 32-year-old Mustapha Hussain from NTA Quarters Hadejia Local Government, suspected to have had anal intercourse with a 13-year-old boy (name withheld). The defendant was on 16th March 2019 arrested and charged to court for the offence of Sodomy punishable under section 284(2) of the Penal Code laws of Jigawa State 2012 as amended by section 4 of Penal Code (miscellaneous Amendment) laws 2014.
However, on arraignment, the defendant denied the charge and pleaded not guilty to the offence. The prosecution counsel in prove of the case called four (4) witnesses and tendered two (2) exhibits and finally closed its case while the defendant testified in his defence as a sole witness and closed his case.
The judge delivered its judgment on 21st October 2021 in favour of the defendant and held that, the prosecution did not prove their case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant and that there is a mistaken identity on the name of the victim as such, the victim is not a witness of the truth by hiding his identity during the investigation. The judge added that, different names were given to the police during the investigation at both division and CID, the medical report, charge sheet and extra judicial statements have different identities.
In another High Court Division (No. 9) sitting at Kazaure Local Government, presided by Justice Abubakar Mohammed Sambo has on 15th November, 2021 discharged and acquitted 3 suspects, Muhd Sani, Usman Abdu and Hassan Jamilu, charged with offence of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery under sections 97(1) and 298(1) of the Penal Code Law of Jigawa State. The prosecution called three witnesses and tendered exhibits and the defendants testified in their own defence.
A case of one Saidu Isyaku was also arraigned on 27th May 2019 before the High Court Kazaure for the offence of culpable homicide. To prove the case, the Prosecution tendered a confessional statement of the defendant as a Prosecution witness, 1 medical report, and called one witness then closed it case. The defence called three (3) witnesses and closed his case.
Honourable Justice Abubakar Mohammed Sambo on 15th November 2021, delivered judgment in favour of the defendant, found that Prosecution was not able to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.
Zainab Baba Santali
Public Relations Officer
Jigawa state Ministry of Justice.
24th November 2021.
