Farmer jailed 10 years for raping 14-year-old girl

A magistrate court in Yobe State on Friday sentenced a 37-year-old farmer, Khaki Nujiya, to 10 years in prison for raping a 14-year-old girl.

The rapist was not given an option of fine.

The prosecuting counsel, Fatima Mohammed, told the court that the convict who lives in Koromari village of Bursari local government area of Yobe State, was reported at the police station on September 9, 2016 for committing the crime.

She said the complainant, Mohammed Arabia, of the same village, told police at Garin Alkali division that the accused lured his daughter while she set out on an errand and forced himself on her.

The father said the rapist, during the forceful intercourse, inflicted injury on the girl’s private part.

Mr. Mohammed said by so doing the accused had committed a grave offence punishable under Section 283 of the Penal Code.

The accused could not prove innocence throughout the trial.

The presiding judge, Abubakar Maluri, ruled that having “taken into consideration the submissions of both the prosecuting and defense counsels in the suit” he had no doubt the former had proved his charges against the accused person beyond every reasonable doubt as required by law.

He sentenced Mr. Nujiya to 10 years imprisonment with no option of fine. In addition, the convict was asked to pay N50, 000 compensation to the victim.

Ms. Mohammed, a foremost women right activist in Yobe state said though she happy with the jail time, she was not satisfied with the N50, 000 compensation given to the victim by the court.