A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sentenced a 36-year-old man, Laminu Ahmed to life imprisonment upon his conviction for raping a seven-year-old girl.
Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi issued the sentence on Thursday while delivering judgment in the case prosecuted by Mrs. Yewande Awopetua of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice.
According to a statement by Kamarudeen Ogundele, the spokesman of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) l, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the convict committed the offence on January 3, 2023.
The statement reads: “The convict had on 3rd January 2023 asked the victim (name withheld) to bring him a plate of food from the food her mother was selling at the Zuba Fruit Market, Abuja, and lured her to follow him with the food to a public bathroom in the market.
“He locked the door as soon as she entered and proceeded to sexually abuse and rape her by forcefully kissing her, inserting his forefinger into her vagina and then penis and raped her.
“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.
“She and the father 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, to which the case was later transferred.
“The defendant was charged to court by Prosecution Counsel from the SGBV Response Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice (representing the AGF), on an eight-count charge.
“He was charged with offences of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and 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.
“However, the defendant upon arraignment in June 2023 pleaded not guilty to all eight counts.
“The prosecution opened its case against the defendant, called the witness, and tendered evidences including the defendant’s confessional statement and confessional video, medical report and report of investigation as well as the statements of the victim and her mother to the police as proof of investigation.
“Reacting to the judgment, Awopetu described it as a win for the Justice Sector particularly the SGBV Response Unit in conjunction with the Gender Unit of the FCT Police Command and the FCT Judiciary, in their fight against the scourge of sexual violence in our society.
“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 unattended in a public place.
“Laminu Ahmed’s name will be included in the Sexual Offender’s Register as is required by law,” she said.
