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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A 36-year-old man, Laminu Ahmed, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a seven-year-old girl.
Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, in her judgment, held that the prosecutor from the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Response unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice headed by Mrs Yewande Awopetu successfully proved the case.
The convict had on January 3, 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 fore finger into her vagina and then 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 told her mother about the rape on her return. 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 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 for the 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.
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 the 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 untended in a public place. Laminu Ahmed’s name will be included in the Sexual Offender’s Register as is required by law,” she said.
