A Federal High Court in Kano State has sentenced 40-year-old fisherman Musbahu Muhamud to seven years imprisonment for sexually exploiting a 10-year-old girl.
Justice S M. Shu’aibu convicted Muhamud, a resident of Layin Gidan Sarki Zango in Galinje Ajingi Local Government Area, after the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) presented four key exhibits, including Muhamud’s confessional statement and the victim’s testimony.
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These exhibits were crucial in demonstrating how Muhamud’s actions contravened Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, punishable under Section 26(1) of the TIP ACT 2015.
Although defense counsel Mr. I. Ibrahim pleaded for leniency, Justice Shu’aibu chose not to offer an option of fine, emphasizing the severity of the crime.
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The offense was committed on October 6, according to Kano State Zonal Commander Mr. Abdullahi Babale.
This verdict highlights the commitment of the Nigerian judicial system to protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly children, from exploitation and abuse.