Three Men Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For R@ping Deaf Girl

Kebbi High Court 7, presided over by Justice Shamsudeen Jafar in Birnin Kebbi, has sentenced three men to life in jail for raping an 18-year-old deaf lady from the state.

The convicts, Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar, and Bashar Dan-Inno from Wararin Zaromawa village, were condemned on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

The prosecution lawyer, Faridah Muhammad, stated that the convicts were charged with two charges of criminal conspiracy and r@pe, which are punishable under sections 259 and 60 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.

The court heard that the actions were committed at Wararin Zaromawa village, Gwandu Local Government Area.

“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 attorney urged the court to convict the defendants as charged because the statute required mandatory sentences.

The prosecution had previously called three witnesses and presented six exhibits containing English and Hausa testimonies from the three prosecution witnesses in support of her case.

Ahmaed Abubakar-Filgila, the defence attorney, summoned the three convicts to give evidence and testify in their defence without presenting any documents or exhibits.

The defence attorney asked the court to balance justice with mercy.

In his decision, Justice Jafar stated that the prosecution had proven all components of the victim’s carnal knowledge.

“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 stated that the court found the defendants 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.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli