Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - A High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State has convicted a 48-year-old man, Kabiru Shekare, for s3xually exploiting schoolgirls.
The convict, who hails from Maƙerar Gandu Area, Birnin-Kebbi
Local Government Area, Kebbi State, was arraigned on a five-count charge
bordering on sexual exploitation contrary to Section 16(1) of the Trafficking
in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPPEA) 2015 (as
amended).
In a judgment delivered by Hon Justice Shamsudeen Ja’afar on
April 24, 2025, the court found the defendant guilty on counts one and two,
while it discharged and acquitted him on counts three, four, and five.
The defendant was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for
each of the two counts, with a fine of one million, and in default of the fine,
to add one year imprisonment to the already established sentence.
However, the sentence is to run concurrently, and it starts
counting from the date of arrest, May 3, 2024.
The prosecution team, led by Barrister Muhammad Abubakar,
tendered several pieces of evidence, including the confessional statement of
the defendant, statements from five victims, each 10 years old, who are
students of Atiku Bagudu science model primary school Makerar Gandu, a medical
report from the Sexual Referral Centre at Kebbi Medical Centre Kalgo, and an
official letter from the school management requesting investigation and
possible prosecution.
The defence counsel, Barrister Hamza Na-Gari, entered a
defence of epilepsy and insanity for the defendant, presenting a medical report
to that effect before the court.
Unfortunately, the court found the medical report
inadmissible and convicted the defendant.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in
Persons Kebbi State Command secured the conviction.
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