Lebanese bags 14-year jail term for sexual exploitation in Kano

A Federal High Court, Kano division has indicted a 67-year-old, Zuhier R. Akar, a Lebanese national for sexual exploitation against two teenagers and thereby sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.

Justice S M Shu’aibu held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt to warrant capital punishment. The judge also ordered him to pay an additional fine of N2 million for the offence.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Kano Command, has dragged the defendant of Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Fagge Local Government Area, to court on two-count charges of trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Earlier, the Prosecution counsel and Kano Zonal Commander NAPTIP, Mr Abdullahi Babale, had told the court that the Department of State Security Service(DSS) Kano Command, reported the matter to the agency on Sept.5, 2024.

Babale revealed that the defendant committed the offence on Sept.4, at about 10:30p.m at his house situated at Gidan Wanka, Unity Road Kano.

“The defendant procured the 14 and 15-year-old girls at the Civic Centre Road near Suya Spot, took them to his house, and sexually exploited them. A video of the defendant having sexual misconduct with the victims was posted on social media,” Babale said

The prosecution presented four exhibits including the confession of the defendant and the victims’ testimony to the court to prove its case. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

The offence contravenes the provisions of section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and is punishable under Sec 26(1) of TIP ACT 2015.

The defence counsel, Mr. R A Kasali, pleaded for leniency on behalf of Akar.