By Mohammed Suleiman, Dutse.
A Jigawa State High Court sitting in Birnin Kudu presided over by Justice Musa Ubale, has sentenced a 45 year old Isa Manga of Kiyako Village, Birnin Kudu LGA to life imprisonment for Rape.
The convict was facing a two count charge of Rape. Firstly, he was said to have lured two girls aged 12 and 14 (names withheld) on the pretence of buying from them parboiled rice when he had unlawful sexual intercourse with them. The offence which was committed in March, 2021 contravened Section 3 (1) (e) of the new Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law , VAPP No. 02, 2021.
While delivering the judgment, Justice Ubale, held that the prosecution from the State Ministry of Justice, had proved all the ingredients of the offence of Rape through their witnesses particularly that of the victims and the evidence of forensic examiner that conducted medical tests on the girls which corroborated the victims separate testimonies.
The court further went on to hold that the sole testimony of the defendant was successfully punctured by the prosecution and therefore inadmissible as the prosecution’s evidence was much stronger and believable.
The judgment, the Court ruled, is meant to serve as deterrent to similar offenders.
If dissatisfied, the convict has 90 days within which to appeal the judgment.