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General news

Niger Assembly orders probe of magistrate over light sentence for rape

NAN-H-143
Investigation
By Amen Gajira
Minna, April 6, 2017 (NAN) The Niger House of Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution urging the state government to investigate the magistrate who handed a one month prison sentence to a man convicted of rape.

The House passed the resolution following a motion moved by Nurudeen Umar (APC/Kontagora I) under matters of urgent public importance.

Umar, who decried the increasing rate of rape and sodomy in his constituency, suggested that the magistrate be investigated to serve as a deterrent to other judges.

“A man sodomized a 12-year-old boy and was handed a one month jail term and a N30,000 fine.

“The convict has already served his term, paid his fine and was released, but the outrage of the public on his release forced security operatives to re-arrest him.

“If nothing is done to ensure that justice is served in this matter, the public may start taking the law into their hands.

“Section 284 of the penal code law of Niger state provides that whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal, shall be punished with a prison term running up to 14 years.

“The punishment in this case is so light that the convict and other would-be offenders cannot be deterred,” he added

He called on the Commissioner of Police to hasten investigation into the matter to quicken prosecution.

Contributing, Mohammed Bawa (APC/Mokwa), prayed the House to invite the officials of the Judicial Service Commission and the Commissioner of Police for a meeting on the matter.

Other members, who spoke, condemned the crime of rape and the action of the magistrate in handing out a light sentence to the convict.

The House also resolved to set up a six-man committee to pay a condolence visit to the family of the deceased victim.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa, directed the clerk of the House to communicate its resolutions to the executive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that a Magistrate in Kontagora, Mohammed Ibrahim, recently sentenced one Nuhu Musa, 37, to a one month prison term and a N30,000 fine, for raping a 12-year-old.

The boy later died from complications confirmed to have developed from the rape. (NAN)
AMEN/ETS

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Health

Sexual Assault: Niger Referral Centre records 156 cases in 31 months – Official

NAN-HG-11
Assault
By Mercy Osajiugo
‎Minna, April‎ 5, 2017 (NAN) Dr Ekaete Umor, the Medical Officer, Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Minna, on Wednesday said 156 children and teenagers were abused from August 2014 to date.

Umor made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ‎ (NAN) in Minna.

“I can confirm to you that in 2014, from August to December, 14 cases of sexual assault were reported; in 2015, between January and December, 60 cases were reported.

“Also, from January to December, 2016, 61 cases were reported, while 21 cases of rape have so far been reported from January, 2017 till date,’’ she said.

Umor said that about 2‎0 per cent of the figures reported were males, while the rest were females.

The medical officer said that the incidence of sexual harassment was becoming alarming in Niger, especially as people were taking advantage of the vulnerability of children.‎‎‎

She said that the cases were under-reported.

“The cases in Niger are likely to be more than the figures reported, perhaps because of fear, the personalities involved and to protect the families’ name.

“The families are also afraid of stigmatisation ‎and the shame that when such an allegation is associated to a girl, it might make her to be bullied in school and also affect her prospects of marriage.

“Some of the rapists are even the fathers or step-fathers of the girls.‎

‎“Most of the cases are repeated; some children have been abused twice, thrice and more, while some of these vulnerable children were abused when they were hawking.

“We cannot ask them not to engage in economic activities for their parents; we advise that they should do it in groups,’’ she said.

According to her, if they hawk in groups, somebody among them ‎will raise alarm when somebody tries to lure any of them away.

‎Umor advised mothers to be watchful as family members could also be involved in assaulting their children‎.

“There was a recent case we had, an uncle raped his four years old niece and she almost bled to death‎; a lot of suturing had to be done.

“The child lost a lot of blood and she had to go through a lot of blood transfusion.

“The case was reported here, but the family members said they will settle the matter at home.

“They were afraid of the stigma and shame it will bring to the girl and the family at large.

“We have had cases of fathers raping daughters, while some were step-fathers raping their step-daughters,’’ she said.

Also, Mr David Yisa, the centre Coordinator, appealed to parents to stop their children from hawking and running errands at night.

He said that until the ugly scourge of sexual assault was completely stamped out of our society, the centre would continue to sensitise people on factors that predispose them to being victims. (NAN)
MNO/VIV/GOK
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Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Olagoke Olatoye
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Judiciary

Man, 62, arraigned over alleged rape of 3-year-old girl

‎

NAN-H-66

Rape

By Amen Gajira‎

Minna, March 16, 2017 (NAN)‎ A 62-year-old man, Mohammed Sani, on Thursday appeared before a Minna Magistrate’s Court, charged with raping a three-year-old girl.

According to the prosecutor, Ahmed Ali, the offence runs foul of section ‎18 (2) of the Child Rights Law of Niger State 2010.

Ali told the court that one Lucia Umoru, a resident of Maitumbi, in Minna, reported the matter at the Minna police station, on March 8.

Ali quoted the complainant as alleging that the accused lured her neighbour’s d‎aughter into his room and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her, leading to severe injuries on her genitals.

When the charge was read to the accused person, he pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecutor to ask for an adjournment‎.

“The adjournment is to enable the police complete its investigation into the case,” he said.

The Magistrate, Sa’adatu Gambo, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the matter to March 22, for further mention. (NAN)
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AMEN‎/ETS

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Edited by Morayo Omolade and Ephraims Sheyin

‎

Judiciary

Man, 24, accused of raping a minor, discharged over lack of prosecution

 

NAN-H-54

Discharge

Jos, March 13, 2017 (NAN) A Jos State High Court on Monday discharged and acquitted one Yinusa Adam, 24, who is being tried over alleged rape of an eight-year-old minor.

Adam was alleged to have committed the crime in an uncompleted building behind Bauchi Road Motor Park, in Jos North Local Government Area of  Plateau.

The accused, a resident of Bauchi Road, in Jos, was arrested on Feb. 1, 2016, at about 10.00 a.m., while allegedly raping the girl.

He was subsequently arraigned and charged with having carnal knowledge of a minor, an offence the prosecutor, Mr. O. S. Ocho, said was contrary to sections 282 and 283 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

When the case came up for hearing before Justice Christine Dabup, on Monday, Ocho told the court that he was unable to bring any witness to testify against the suspect because the nominal complainant had relocated out of the jurisdiction of the court.

“The second reason is that the Investigating Police Officer has been transferred out of Plateau; he is now inAbuja,” he said.

The prosecutor pleaded with the court to strike out the case.

Ocho’s plea was promptly accepted by the defence Counsel, Mr J.J. Moroloye.

Ruling on the matter, the judge said that the case could not be continued.

“Since the prosecution is not ready to continue with the case based on the reasons adduced by him, this case has to be struck out.

“This case is hereby struck out for want of diligent prosecution; the accused is also hereby discharged and acquitted,’’ Dabup declared. (NAN)

TYC/DOR/ETS
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Edited by Nyisom Dore and Ephraims Sheyin

 

General news

Organisation says 80% of rape victims in Plateau are minors

Organisation says 80% of rape victims in Plateau are minors

NAN-H-48

Rape

By Martha Agas

Jos, Feb. 8, 2017 (NAN) The Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigeria (CWEENS), says 80 per cent of the 141 rape cases recorded in Plateau from 2015 to 2016 are minors.

Mrs Comfort Zawaya, the Project Officer for the organization, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Plateau Peace Building Agency on Wednesday in Jos.

She attributed the rising cases of rape in the state to lack of adequate laws to prosecute perpetrators.

According to her, this led to the establishment of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Observatory Group to report such and ensure rapid response mechanism to reverse the trend.

“Some existing laws in the Penal Code are outdated and do not address the contemporary issues, and some of these laws have become obsolete,’’ she said.

Zawaya said the visit was to seek partnership with the agency to create enabling environment to enact policies that would reduce the incessant cases of gender-based violence and engage women participation in governance.

She said partnership with the agency would fast track strategic advocacy campaign messages to key policy makers and articulate women to have a voice in the society.

Responding, Mr Joseph Lengman, the Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency, noted that building partnership with NGOs and Civil Society Organisations would ensure great likelihood of peace, a major criterion of development was achieved.

He said that women were under represented in the polity which was affecting their integration and contributions at key decisions at all levels in the society.

“We have a massive disequilibrium in women representation which is a reflection of the patriarchal society we live in.

“Our new agency is ready to partner with NGOs and CSOs to integrate women in decision making and enhance their participation in development process,’’ he said.

He said the VAWG observatory committee, which was established by the Nigeria Social Development Programme (NSRP), would be given the necessary support to discharge its duties despite the end of their funding support from the organisation.

“We would chart a new basis of engagement and develop a framework once we have the necessary documents and formal request from the organisation,’’ he said. (NAN)

MAA/DS/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Poly adopts stringent measures against cultism, rape

Poly adopts stringent measures against cultism, rape

NAN-HG-7

Rape

By Awayi Kuje

Akwanga (Nasarawa State), Jan. 23, 2017 (NAN) The Nacabs Polytechnic, Akwanga, Nasarawa State, says it has adopted stringent measures against cultism, rape, indecent dressing and other social vices in the institution.

Mr David Abuluya, the Proprietor of the polytechnic made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Akwanga.

He warned that the institution would not stake its academic and moral credentials by tolerating any act of cultism, indiscipline, examination malpractice and other social vices.

“We are doing our best in maintaining standard and we will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, misbehaviour, examination malpractice, cultism and rape, among other social vices, because these are negative tendencies that affect the education sector and the society negatively.

“I want to disclose to you that during the previous academic session, we have handed over not less than 10 students of this institution that are suspected to be cultists to the Nasarawa state police command for interrogation in order to promote sanity in the sector.

“I want to tell you and the world that there is no hiding place for cultist activities, rape, examination and other negative tendencies in this institution as we have adopted stringent measures against such negative acts.

“I also want to use this medium to warn our students and staff against such negative acts because anyone caught will be expelled;

“everybody is aware that a private institution like this was established with the aimed of complementing government efforts to improve on the standard of education,’’ he said.

According to him, cultism, examination malpractice and other social vices had affected our lives, the education sector and the socio-economic development of the country negatively, hence the need for all Nigerians to kick against the negative act for the betterment of the society.

Abuluya renewed his call on the Federal Government to include private tertiary institutions in its Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) projects across the country in order to boost the level of physical and academic structures.

He added that inclusion of private tertiary institutions in TETFUND projects would not only change the physical structures of private institutions but would also upscale academic activities positively.

The proprietor restated the commitment of the institution to continue to support federal government education policies in order to improve on the standard of education in the state and the country at large. (NAN)

AKW/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Judiciary

Man, 50, remanded over rape of girl, 5

Man, 50, remanded over rape of girl, 5

NAN-HG-3

Remand

Abuja, Jan. 4, 2017 (NAN) A Gudu Upper Area Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 50-year-old man, Teacher Senior of Area 11, Garki, for raping a five-year-old girl.

The trial judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, ordered that Teacher Senior be remanded in prison custody after he admitted to the crime in the following words: “Okay, I did it.’’

Kagarko, after citing relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, said that rape was a capital offence which attracted a minimum of 25 years in prison.

He thereby rejected the defendant’s plea of guilt, ordering his remand in prison till March 1, for the commencement of the trial.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Joshua Ayanna, had told the court that one Hauwa Hamin of Kubwa Phase IV, reported the matter at Garki police station on Jan. 1.

Ayanna said that on the day in question, the complainant and her five-year-old daughter visited her sister at Area 11, Garki.

He said that when they were about to leave, her daughter went outside and it was then that the defendant deceived her and took her inside his room where he forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

“During police investigation, it was revealed that he removed her trouser and inserted his penis inside her vagina,’’ Ayanna said.

The prosecutor said that the offence was contrary to Section 283 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

SET/AO/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Scholar decries rising rate of rape cases,urges parental interest on dressing 

 

NAN-H-83 

Rape

By Aisha Ahmed

Kano Jan. 3, 2017 (NAN) A Kano-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ibrahim Abdurrahman, has decried the rising rate of rape cases in the society, and urged community leaders to be “very vigilant”.

The scholar, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kano on Tuesday, also challenged parents of female children to “show more interest in what the girls wear”.

“Rape cases are on the rise and they pose a serious threat to the society; they are major point of concern to parents.

“The worst victims are the young girls that hawk their wares on the streets.

“These girls often dress indecently and that has made them more vunerable,” he said.

The scholar pointed out that not all men could resist the sights of such young girls, “especially the young men, who are just growing up”.

He said that the society must stand against the menace, and explained that the situation would change “if society gets more vigillant, identify the culprits and made sure they are severely punished”.

Abdulrahman also charged parents to take more interest in the moral rectitude of their children, “especially the need to draw a line between wrong and right.” (NAN)

AAA/DS/ETS

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Edited by Dauda Shehu and controlled by Ephraims Sheyin