Justice

A Kano Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced a 67-year-old farmer, Lawan Umar, to seven years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

The convict, who resides at Garindau Village, Warawa Local Government Area of Kano, was arraigned on a one-count charge of act of gross indecency.

Umar admitted to the crime and pleaded for mercy, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

The Chief Magistrate, Maryam Sabo, sentenced Umar to five years imprisonment without any option of a fine and two years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N50, 000 for the offence of gross indecency.

Sabo said she based her ruling on the evidence before the court and the guilty plea of the convict.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Shehu Adam, had told the court that Bilyaminu Ahmed of the same address reported the matter at Warawa Police Division, Kano, on May 14, 2017.

Adam said on the same date at about 9:00 a.m, the convict deceived and lured the complainant’s 12-year-old daughter, who was on her way to Islamiyya School into his room at Garindau Village and had carnal knowledge of her.

“The convict assaulted the girl indecently by forcefully rubbing his manhood on her vagina until he released his semen, which caused her harm.’’

The victim was rushed to the Warawa Hospital for treatment.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 285 of the Penal Code.