Farmer sentenced to 15 Years in jail For Raping 8-year-old girl

A Hadejia High Court in Jigawa, on Wednesday, sentenced a 25-year-old farmer, Umar Yakubu, to 15 years imprisonment, without an option of fine, for raping an eight-year-old girl.

Yakubu was dragged before the court by the police in 2012 on one count charge of rape, contrary to Section 282 of the Penal Code.

He was accused of having carnal knowledge of the girl (name withheld), at Dingare Village in Kaugama local government area of the state.

Delivering judgement, Justice Ubale Ahmed, said Yakubu was convicted and sentenced under Section 283 of the Penal Code based on evidences and his submissions before the court.

The judge said the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that he was guilty as charged, adding that the court passed the verdict to serve as deterrent to others and check the spate of rape and other forms of abuses against children in the society.

In a related development, a 20-year-old man, Oluyi Oba, was yesterday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti magistrates’ court for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl.

The accused, according to the police prosecutor, Emmanuel David, committed the offence on October 22, at about 1pm, at Iyin Ekiti.

He said Oba had forceful carnal knowledge of the girl which led to her being hospitalised, adding that the offence contravenes Section 218 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, lawa of Ekiti state, 2012.

The accused’s plea was not taken and the chief Magistrate, Simeon Ojo, ordered that he should be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to November 21 for further hearing.