Kebbi Court Jails Man 5 Years For Attempted Rape

A Kebbi State High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi has convicted Ibrahim Isah, a resident of Rikoto Area, Zuru Local Government Area, but working in Birnin Kebbi, for attempting to rape a young girl identified as Zainab Muhammad.

The court, presided over by Justice Maryam Abubakar Kaoje, found Isah guilty of attempting to commit the offence of rape, which is punishable under Section 58 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.

Isah was initially charged with two counts of rape and gross indecency, punishable under Sections 259 and 261 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021, respectively.

According to court records, the prosecution, led by Lawal Hudu Garba, SAN, and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Ministry of Justice, presented five witnesses and tendered three exhibits, including the defendant’s statements in English and Hausa languages, as well as a medical report of the rape victim.

However, the defence, led by Barrister S.M. DanYaro, called only one witness, the defendant himself.

In its judgment, the court held, “The facts disclosed in the confessional statement did not prove the offence of rape and act of gross indecency, but rather, it proved the offence of an attempt to commit an offence to wit; rape, contrary to Section 58 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021, which is a lesser offence of the offences he is being charged with.

“The court found the defendant guilty of the offence of an attempt to commit an offence to wit; rape, on one Zainab Muhammad, contrary to Section 58 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021, and he was convicted accordingly.”

The court subsequently sentenced Ibrahim Isah to five years imprisonment and fined him N50,000, in default of which he will serve one year in prison.