FROM MIJINYAWA BABA- UTHMAN MINNA.
The Minna Senior Magistrate court number five has Convicted and sentenced a thirty five year old Haruna Mohammed to Fifteen years behind Correctional for having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor
Mohammed was found guilty of unlawful sexual intercourse by the President senior Magistrate Hajiya Sahura Abdulkarim but discharge him on the offense of intimidation.
The convict was in 2022 arraigned on two count charges which bothered on Criminal intimidation and unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.
According to the police Prosecutor Inspector Emmanuel Ogiri the two count charges were punishable under
26 (2), of the child right law of Niger State 2022 and 397 of the penal code law.
Haruna Mohammed who was until his arrest was a house help to the father of the victim for the past fifteen years and he became member of the family that they never believe he could rape their daughter for any reason.
During his trial, the police Prosecutor called five witnesses among them included a medical doctor and the medical report which revealed the penetration into the private part of the victim by the convict which the medical doctor testified under cross examination by the defense counsel Barrister Mohammed Hamza.
While analyzing the submissions of the
prosecuting witnesses and the evidences tendered before the court, the Presiding Senior Magistrate Hajiya Sahura Abdulkarim, asserted that the Prosecutor was able to establish and proved the case of unlawful sexual intercourse against the convict while he failed to prove the case of intimidation against the convict.
" The Prosecutor has failed to prove the case of Criminal intimidation against the convict and the he has established and proved the case of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and punishable under section 26 (2) of the child right law of Niger State 2022 and I so hold" she asserted.
While pleading for leniency of the court, the convict told the court that he regretted his actions and pleaded that the court should temper justice with Mercy.
She then Convicted and sentenced him to fifteen years in Correctional center without option of fine and the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others
