Court sentences three men to life imprisonment for raping 18-year-old PWD in Kebbi

A high court in Birnin Kebbi has sentenced three people to life imprisonment for raping an 18-year-old auditory impaired woman in Kebbi state.

The convicts, identified as Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar and Bashar Dan-Inno, were convicted on two-count charges of criminal conspiracy and rape.

During the trial on Wednesday, Faridah Muhammad, the prosecution counsel, said the convicts committed the offence at Wararin Zaromawa village in Gwandu LGA.

Muhammad said the crime contravenes sections 259 and 60 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.

“The defendants had broken into the victim’s house while she was asleep and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her,” NAN quoted her as saying.

“They had choked her with a thick piece of cloth and tied her two hands with a rope before having carnal knowledge of her one-by-one.”

She presented three witnesses and tendered six exhibits supported by statements written in Hausa and English.

She prayed that the court convict the defendants as charged, adding that the law imposes a mandatory sentence for the crime committed.

Ahmed Abubakar-Filgila, the defence counsel, called the three convicts to give evidence and testify.

Abubakar-Filgila, who did not tender any document or exhibit, asked the court to temper justice with mercy.

While delivering judgment, Shamsudeen Jafar, the presiding judge, said the prosecution had established all the ingredients of carnal knowledge of the victim.

“I am of the firm view that all the defendants conspired in perpetrating the act,” Jafar said.

“Meanwhile, the convicts conspired and raped the victim, who is an 18-year-old deaf, who is also a married woman, at her husband’s residence.

“All ingredients needed to establish criminal conspiracy to commit rape were established beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution.

“The court has no option than to act upon the evidence before it.

“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 section 259 and section 60 of Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.”