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From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The Federal High Court in Kano presided by Justice S M Shu’aibu has sentenced a 67-year-old Lebanese, Zuhier R Akar, to 14 years imprisonment for sexually exploiting two teenage girls.
The convict, who resides at Unity Road in Fagge Local Government Area of the state, was arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano Command on a two-count charge on trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Delivering judgment, the judge declared that the prosecution team had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment without an option of a fine.
The judge also ordered him to pay an additional fine of N2 million for the offence.
Earlier, the prosecution and Kano Zonal Commander NAPTIP, Abdullahi Babale, had informed the court that the case was reported to the agency on September 5, 2024, by the Department of State Service(DSS) Kano Command.
Babale held that the defendant had committed the offence on September 4, at about 10:30p.m in his house situated at Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Kano State.
“The defendant procured the 14 and 15 year-old girls at the Civic Centre Road near a Suya Spot, took them to his house and sexually exploited them.
“A video of the defendant having sexual misconduct with the victims was posted on social media. Babale had informed the court.
The prosecution presented four exhibits including the confession of the defendant and the victims’ testimony to the court to prove its case.
The defendant pleaded guilty while his counsel, R A Kasali, asked for leniency over the offence which contravenes the provisions of section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
