AISHA ABUBAKAR
The Federal Capital Territory High Court has sentenced a labourer, Abdulraman Saliyu, to 15 years imprisonment without an option of fine for the defilement of a 4-year old girl in Abuja.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the Judgement of Justice Malam Abdullahi Abdulkarim, who convicted and sentenced Saliyu for the dastardly act. The Court also ordered the convicted Saliyu, who resides in Dukpa Gwagwalada, FCT, to pay N800,000 to the nominal complainant on the matter.
He pleaded guilty and begged the Court for leniency.
Delivering judgment, the Judge, Malam Abdulkarim convicted and sentenced Saliyu to the terms of imprisonment without an option of fine and to pay the said sum of money following an oral application for compensation made by the Prosecution Counsel, Abdullahi Tanko.
“I hereby convict you Abdulraman for the offence of rape punishable under Section 283, the Law says that whoever commits rape shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for any less term and shall also be liable to fine.”
“In passing out judgment, the Court took into consideration the severity of the offence and the age of the victim. This judgment will serve as a deterrent to others who want to toll that part in future”, he ruled.
Earlier, Tanko told the Court that the matter was reported at the Gwagwalada Police Station by Mrs. Safiyat Musa of same address on 29th May, 2023, who moved into action and arrested him.
During interrogation, the Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Court on the offence, which contravened the provisions of Section 282 of the Penal Code.
The Defence Counsel, Mr. Okere Chamberline, in his allocutus prayed the Court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict hence he was sentenced accordingly.
Thus, the convict will be spending the next 15 years in custody at the Correctional Centre for the offence he committed in line with the judgement.