Water vendor bags 7 years over assault of 3- year- old girl

Justice SM Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kano, has convicted and sentenced a 22-year-old water vendor, Lawal Bashir, to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine for inserting his finger into the private part of a 3-year-old girl. The police said the incident happened on January 28 in Rangaza village in Ungogo Local […]

Justice SM Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kano, has convicted and sentenced a 22-year-old water vendor, Lawal Bashir, to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine for inserting his finger into the private part of a 3-year-old girl.

The police said the incident happened on January 28 in Rangaza village in Ungogo Local Government Area when the convict took the girl to an uncompleted building to sexually exploit her before he was arrested.

The convict pleaded guilty when the charge was read out to him.

Prosecution counsel, Hassan Nuruddeen, said the offence was contrary to the provisions of Section 16 of Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act.

Defence counsel, U E Akpan, did not object to the confessional statement of the convict, having pleaded guilty to the one count charge.

When the trial judge asked the convict whether he takes illicit drugs to warrant committing such crime, he said no but only drank tea with his friends, which turned his head upside down.

His father also told the court that it was the influence of his friends that led him to the act, saying he was extremely sad.