Man, 37, bags 10-year jail term for rape in Yobe

The Magistrate Court sitting in Damaturu of Yobe State has sentenced a 37 year-old year man, Khaji Nujiya for 10 years imprisonment, with no option of fine for raping 14-year old girl.

The prosecutor, Barrister Fatima Alhaji Mohammed, told the court on Friday that the case was reported at the Garin Alkali police division by one Mohammed Arania of Koromari village in Bursari local government area of Yobe state, on September 9, 2016.

He told the court that on the same date, the accused person, Khaji Nujiya of same address, stopped his daughter, Zainab Mella, aged 14 while she was on her way to fetch animal feed in the bush, where he forcefully had a sexual intercourse with her against her consent.

As a result, she told the court, the victim sustained injury on her private part, adding that the offence is punishable under section 283 of the penal code law.In his judgment, the presiding judge, Abubakar Lambart Maluri, told the court that, having taken into consideration the submissions of the prosecutor and the defense council for the accused, he is satisfied that the prosecutor has proved the charges against the accused person beyond all reasonable doubt as required by law.

He therefore convicted the accused person and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment with no option of fine in addition to the compensation payments of N50, 000 to the victim.

However, speaking to our reporter after the judgment, the prosecutor, Barrister Fatima Alhaji Mohammed, who is also a member of women lawyers activist in the state fighting for the defense of the rights women and the girl child, said he was not satisfied with rate of N50, 000 compensation for all that the girl has lost in her womanhood.She however feels satisfied with the ten years punishment saying that it would send a signal to others like the convict.