An image of the scale of justice, a symbol of judiciary authority, as the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) sacks a chief magistrate in Nasarawa state.

A 36-year-old man received a life sentence on Friday from an Abuja High Court  for raping a seven-year-old girl.

Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi found the defendant guilty on an eight-count charge. The Federal Government entered the counts against him through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

The trial judge held that the prosecutor successfully proved the case. The prosecutors were from the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Response unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice headed by Mrs Yewande Awopetu,

According to the charge, the convict  commited the crime on January 3, 2023. He had asked the victim  to bring him a plate of food from  her mother’s shop at the Zuba Fruit Market, Abuja.  Thereafter, he lured her, with the food, into a public bathroom in the market.

36-year-old man threatened the girl

According to the prosecution, the convict locked the door as soon as the victim entered the toilet. He then  sexually abuse and rape her by forcefully inserting his finger and penis into her private part.

The prosecution said: “He clamped his hands over her mouth when she attempted to scream and threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone.

“Nevertheless, the little girl was brave enough to tell her mother about the rape on her return. The mother had gone out to attend a friend’s naming ceremony when the incident occurred.

“The parents had immediately reported the matter to the local vigilante who arrested the defendant and handed him over to the Police.

“The defendant confessed to the crime at the Police Station in Zuba and at the FCT Command where the matter was later transferred,” the court was told.

The charge against the defendant bordered on offences of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child. He was also accused of sexual abuse under the Child Rights Act; Rape, Intimidation and Infliction of bodily injury under the Violence against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015; and Criminal force under the Penal Code.

After the defendant pleaded not guilty to all eight counts upon his arraignment in June 2023, the prosecution called called several witnesses and tendered a confessional statement. There was also a medical report as well as the statements of the victim and her mother to the police.

Laminu   denied making the confessional statement, claiming the police forced it out of him.  But  the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against him and the court convicted and sentenced him.

The prosecution counsel, Awopetu, later expressed satisfaction with the judgement. “It is also a warning to would be perpetrators that the long arm of the law will definitely catch up with them. A key lesson for parents in this case is never to leave their kids untended in a public place.

By Usoh Udosen

Usoh Udosen is our General Assignment Reporter, with bias for the evolving world of Technology. He covers a wide range of topics, bringing depth and clarity to complex issues. With a commitment to journalistic integrity, Usoh connects with audiences through compelling narratives and informative reporting. His diverse experience and adaptability, spanning seven years, make him a valuable asset to our team.

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