A Kano State High Court (No. 3), presided over by Justice Farouk Lawan, has handed a 14-year prison sentence to Ahmed Muhammed for raping a 12-year-old girl.

Muhammed was first arrested in 2006 and later arraigned on a one-count charge of rape, to which he pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Barrister Ibrahim Araf Garba, called four witnesses during the trial.

During the proceedings Muhammed testified in his own defense but after carefully assessing the evidence Justice Lawan found that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore found Muhammed guilty as charged.

The sentence carries no option of a fine, underlining the gravity with which the court treated the offence.

Observers note that, while the verdict sends a strong message about the judiciary’s stance on child sexual abuse, the nearly two-decade delay between the arrest and final judgment raises concerns about the pace of justice in such cases.

The ruling is among a number of recent prosecutions in Kano aimed at reinforcing protections for minors and strengthening enforcement of sexual-offence laws in Nigeria.

Praise Eberechi Azubuke

Abuja, Nigeria.