In a landmark decision at the Kebbi High Court 7 in Birnin Kebbi, Justice Shamsudeen Jafar presided over the case that led to the sentencing of three individuals to life imprisonment for the rape of an 18-year-old married deaf woman. The convicted individuals, namely Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar, and Bashar Dan-Inno, hail from Wararin Zaromawa village.
The Prosecution Counsel, Faridah Muhammad, highlighted that the convicts were charged with criminal conspiracy and rape for the crimes they committed in Gwandu Local Government Area of Kebbi State at Wararin Zaromawa village. She detailed how the defendants forcefully entered the victim’s home while she was sleeping, choked her with a cloth, tied her hands, and proceeded to rape her one by one.
In her plea to the court, the counsel emphasized the applicability of mandatory sentencing for such acts, given that criminal conspiracy and rape are offenses punishable under sections 259 and 60 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.
During the trial, the prosecution presented three witnesses and six exhibits, including statements in English and Hausa languages, to bolster their case. On the other hand, the Defense Counsel, Ahmed Abubakar-Filgila, allowed the convicts to testify in their defense without presenting any additional documents or exhibits, appealing to the court for clemency.
In delivering the verdict, Justice Jafar concurred with the prosecution’s case, noting the undeniable evidence of the defendants’ involvement in the crime. He emphasized that the corroborated statements of the victim and the first defendant left no room for doubt, with their evidence remaining uncontested by the defense.
The judge firmly stated, “The evidence points to a clear collaboration among all the defendants in the commission of this heinous act. It is evident that the convicts conspired to rape the 18-year-old deaf woman at her husband’s residence, meeting all the criteria for criminal conspiracy to commit rape beyond reasonable doubt.” Consequently, he declared the first, second, and third defendants guilty as charged.
As a result of their conviction, Justice Jafar pronounced the life imprisonment sentence for Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar, and Bashar Dan-Inno under the provisions of sections 259 and 60 of Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.