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| Dame Julie Okah-Donli, |
A
Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja has sentenced Mr
Francis Yusuf, a civil servant to life imprisonment for raping his wife’s niece
and further assaulted the victim after the abominable act.
The
37-year-old convict, who, as at the time of filing this report, could not
believe the reality of the judgment as delivered by Justice Hassan Babangida of
the FCT High Court 32, was convicted under the Violence Against Persons
Prohibition Act (VAPPA) which is applicable within the Federal Capital
Territory.
He
is to spend the rest of his life in prison custody without any option of fine.
The
victim, a 17-year-old Secondary School leaver, was hired by the wife of the
convict to temporarily assist in taking care of her baby having gained
admission to one of the universities in Kaduna State.
The
victim said that on the fateful day, she dropped her niece in school, returned
home and met her uncle at home which she found to be strange.
The
convict asked her series of questions regarding her NECO exams which she
answered. He further went ahead to ask if she had a boyfriend in the village.
The victim said she does and explained that they were just friends.
The
uncle asked if she was still a virgin and replied that she was. And then he
suddenly grabbed and unzipped her dress. He then forcibly penetrated her. All
her efforts to scream and alert neighbours were abortive as he used a cloth to
cover her mouth. After raping her, he flogged and locked her up in the house.
The
medical report also showed that she was limping and her hymen had been tampered
with.
Head,
Press and Public Relations Unit, NAPTIP, Stella Nezan, said: “He was arrested
that same day, September 13, 2019, by operatives of the NAPTIP following a tip
off while the case was filed on December 11, 2018, after the completion of
investigation. The convict was arraigned on February 28, 2019 at the FCT High
Court Jabi- Court 32 under Justice Hassan Babangida with charge number
CR/70/18, under the VAPP Act 2015. He was found guilty and convicted on January
15, 2020 and was sentenced to life imprisonment on January28, 2020.”
According
to Nezan, the latest development came on the heel of the conviction of another
four human traffickers by a Federal High Court siting in Enugu for trafficking
of minors for labour exploitation and other hazardous activities.
The
harvest of convictions came barely 24 hours after the Director General of the
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame
Julie Okah-Donli, read the riot act to human traffickers and rapists in the country
warning them that 2020 would be tough for them unless they desisted from any
act that was contrary to the wellbeing of the society.
Okah-Donli,
who commended the Judge for the brilliant judgment delivered in the case also
hailed the legal team of the Agency for the diligent prosecution of the case.
She
said: “I am particularly happy that justice has been adequately served in this
matter. This will serve as a deterrent to other persons and potential rapists
who take delight in defiling our children. Like I said recently, this year will
be hot for rapists and human traffickers in the country. We cannot afford to
fold our hands while some unscrupulous persons continue to jeopardize the
future of our children. They deserve protection and care rather sexual
harassment. I specially appreciate the collaboration of all stakeholders in
this case. With this development, his name will automatically feature in the
newly launched Sexual Offender Register.”
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