Jigawa High Court sentences four rapists to life imprisonment

By Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse

The Jigawa High Court 6 sitting in Birnin Kudu presided by Honourable Justice Musa Ubale has on Wednesday delivered judgment against four men, Umar Danladi, Abdussalam Sale, Auwalu Yunusa and Mu’azu Abdurrahman sentencing them to life imprisonment for rape cases.

The four men were  charged  and found guilty of the offence of rape, punishable to life imprisonment under Section 283 of the Penal Code Law of Jigawa State 2012(as amended)

Umar Danladi  who hails from Sabuwar Gwaram, Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State, was alleged to have lured and forcefully took an 8 year old pupil while returning from school and raped her.

The defendant was arrested, and on arraignment, he denied the charge.In his effort to prove the charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt, the prosecution counsel Yahaya Abdullahi Esq (Deputy Director Citizens Right) called three witnesses, tendered three exhibits (statement of the defendant and medical report) and finally closed his case.

On his side, the defendant testified as sole witness in his own defense and called no other witnesses.

In the second case, Abdussalam Sale from Rafawa Village, Dutse Local Government Area, was accused to have raped a 12 year old girl he met along Sabon Garin Barnawa to Kishin Gishin Gawa village.

The defendant sent the victim on an errand, but after she had returned, he forcefully grabbed and raped her. After his arrest he admitted to have committed the offence. But on his arraignment, he denied the charge.

In the case of Auwalu Yunusu who hails from Kafin Fulani in Gwaram Local Government Area, he was accused to have raped a 6 year old girl, after returning from an errand the defendant sent her. After the victim had returned, the defendant forcefully had sexual intercourse and threatened to kill her if she tells anyone.

Few days later, the victim was asked what happened to her but refused to talk, until when she could not walk again. That was when she revealed the identity of Mr. Yunusa as the person who raped her.

In establishing the charge against the defendant, the prosecution  called five witnesses, tendered two exhibits (statement of the defendant and medical report) and finally closed his case.

On his side, the defendant testified as sole witness in his own defense and called no other witness.

Lastly, Muazu Abdulrahman who comes from Sabuwar Gwaram in Gwaram Local Government was also accused to have lured an 8 year old pupil and had sexual intercourse with her while returning from school. The defendant forcefully took her to a guinea corn farm and raped her.

On arraignment, the defendant denied committing the offence, while the prosecution in an effort to prove his charge, called out 3 witnesses and tendered 3 exhibits (statement of the defendant and medical report). The defendant testified as sole witness in his own defense.

Honourable Justice Musa Ubale while delivering judgments in the four cases found that the prosecution through its counsel Yahaya Abdullahi had proved the cases beyond reasonable doubt, and so, sentenced the four accused men to life imprisonment based on the provision  of Section 283 of the Penal Code Law of Jigawa State 2012 (as amended).