Crime
Court Sentences Three Men To Life Imprisonment For Raping Deaf Woman
The three convicts to present their testimonies and provide evidence for their defense, but did not submit any documents or exhibits.
Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State– The Kebbi High Court 7, presided over by Justice Shamsudeen Jafar in Birnin Kebbi, has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for raping an 18-year-old deaf woman.
The convicts, Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar, and Bashar Dan-Inno from Wararin Zaromawa village, were sentenced on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
Faridah Muhammad, the prosecution counsel, stated that the defendants were charged with two counts: criminal conspiracy and rape. These offenses are punishable under sections 259 and 60 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.
The court was informed that the offenses took place in Wararin Zaromawa village, located within the Gwandu Local Government Area of the state.
“The defendants broke into the victim’s house while she was asleep and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. They choked her with a thick piece of cloth and tied her hands with a rope before having carnal knowledge of her one by one,” she said.
The counsel prayed the court to convict the defendants as charged because the law imposed mandatory sentences.
The prosecution had earlier called three witnesses and submitted six exhibits, including both English and Hausa statements from these witnesses, to support her case.
The defence attorney, Ahmaed Abubakar-Filgila, summoned the three convicts to present their testimonies and provide evidence for their defense, but did not submit any documents or exhibits.
The defence counsel prayed to the court to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgement, Justice Jafar, stated that the prosecution had proved all the elements of carnal knowledge of the victim.
“I am of the firm view that all the defendants conspired in perpetrating the act. Meanwhile, the convicts conspired and raped the victim, who is an 18-year-old deaf woman, at her husband’s residence
“All ingredients needed to establish a criminal conspiracy to commit rape were established beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution. The court has no option but to act upon the evidence before it,” he said.
The judge said the court held the defendants were guilty as charged.
“Having found you guilty of the charge, you Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar, and Bashar Dan-Inno are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for finding all of you guilty under sections 259 and 60 of Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021,” he declared.
