Shamsu Adamu was sentenced to 14 years in prison with various tasks at a correctional facility for defiling a girl by a Kano State High Court on Friday, which was presided over by Justice Maryam Sabo.

Adamu, an adult inhabitant of Kunture in the Ungogo Local Government Area, was convicted of rape in violation of Penal Code Law section 283.

Barr A.U. Adamu, the prosecution’s attorney, called three witnesses—the victim, the neighbours, and an investigating police officer—to establish his case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Witnesses provided the most compelling evidence, testifying that on or around June 7, 2021, at 4:00 pm in Kunture Village, Ungogo LGA, Kano Judicial Division, the prisoner enticed the victim into his room, which was linked to their home, raped her, forced her out of the room, and fled.

The suspect entered a not guilty plea after being given the charge, and he went on to testify as the only defence witness.

He was charged on two counts of rape in violation of Penal Code Section 283 and unnatural offence against the order of nature, which is punished under Penal Code Section 284.

Notwithstanding the lack of concrete proof connecting the defendant to the crime, Justice Sabo stated in her ruling that there was “circumstantial evidence adduced before the court during the trial, especially that of the victim’s mother who saw blood on the private part of her child.” Additionally, I firmly think that the prosecution’s attorney was able to establish the defendant’s rape beyond a reasonable doubt after leading the investigative team to the defendant’s room in a similar manner.

Therefore, I find you, Shamsu Adamu, a male adult from Kunture Village in Ungogo LGA, guilty of rape in accordance with Section 282 of the Penal Code Law and subject to punishment under Section 283 of the same Law,” she said.

“With hard labour in the correctional facility, I hereby convict you and sentence you to 14 years in prison.”

Similarly, Justice Sabo said in her ruling that the prosecution had not shown the defendant’s unnatural offence based on the facts presented to the court.

“There is not enough evidence from PW 3 to prove that the defendant committed an unnatural crime.

“Therefore, in accordance with Section 284 of the Penal Code, I discharge and acquit the defendant for the offence of unnatural offence.”