Metro

Man Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Rape

Published

4 months ago

May 6, 2025

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday convicted and sentenced a 27-year-old man, Abdulhameed Ahmed, to life imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl, which later resulted in pregnancy.

The convict was brought before the court by the police in the case marked FCT/HC/CR/506/2023, filed on 23 July 2023, on a one-count charge bordering on rape.

First arraigned on 31 January 2024, the convict was accused of luring 15-year-old Bilkisu Haruna to his room under the guise of gifting her a mobile phone and having sexual intercourse with her against her will.

By this, the prosecution said, the convict had committed an offence contrary to Section 31(1) of the Child’s Rights Act Cap 50 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, punishable under Section 31(2) of the same law.

During the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses, including the victim, Bilkisu Haruna, her father, Haruna Ardo, and the investigating police officer, Inspector Lorine Osunde.

Ahmed, on his part, testified for himself alongside two other witnesses, Yusuf Abdulganiyu and Khadija Ismaila.

Delivering judgment in the case, Justice Oriji said it was the duty of the court to interpret and apply the provisions of Section 31 of the Child’s Rights Act under which the defendant was charged.

According to him, by virtue of the provisions of Section 31(1) of the Child’s Rights Act, the elements of rape which the prosecution is required to prove beyond reasonable doubt are that the defendant had sexual intercourse with Bilkisu Haruna and that the victim was a child at the time of the alleged offence.

The court noted that evidence shows Ahmed had sex with the victim four times between 2022 and 2023, as stated in his statement to the police tendered as an exhibit in court.

It added that the victim’s father, Haruna Ardo, testified that she was born in 2007, with her birth certificate showing she was born on 15 November 2007, meaning she was less than 15 years old in 2022 when the defendant first had sex with her.

In view of this, the court held that the prosecution had been able to prove the elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Oriji further held that the convict had neither married Bilkisu nor had sex with her after marriage, adding that there was no evidence before the court to show that it is proper or permissible under Islamic law for a man to have sex with a child or minor before marriage.

According to the judge, the convict’s statement to the police that he did not know Bilkisu was a minor or 15 years old was unavailing, as Section 31(3) of the Child’s Rights Act stipulates that where a person is charged with an offence under the section, it is immaterial that the “offender believed the person to be of or above the age of eighteen years”.

“The court holds that the considered view of Section 1 of the said Act cannot be a basis to reach a decision that the defendant is not guilty of the offence, which has been proved by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt.

“All said and in conclusion, the decision of the court is that the defendant, Abdulhameed Ahmed, is guilty of the offence of rape under Section 31(1) of the Child’s Rights Act,” the judge held.

After listening to the convict’s lawyer’s allocutus as well as interventions from other lawyers present in court, Justice Oriji subsequently sentenced Ahmed to life imprisonment.

Metro

Edo Govt Demolishes Building Owned by Suspected Cultist

Published

31 minutes ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The Governor Monday Okpebholo led-Edo State Government has demolished a house belonging to a suspected cultist.

The building was said to have been used for initiations in Egbaen community along Upper Siluko Road , Egor Local Government Area.

The building was said to belong to a suspected Maphite cult leader, and was said to be used as a base for cult initiation rites and ritual practices.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary ( CPS) to the governor, Fred Itua in Saturday said the operation was executed by the Edo State Special Security Squad, codenamed “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers”, working in concert with various security agencies and community stakeholders.

The statement said the, coordinator of the Edo State Security Squad, Idemudia Noah confirmed that the building was linked a leader of the Maphite cult group, who had allegedly converted the bungalow into a shrine and meeting point for illegal activities.

“We were here some days ago to seal up this building following allegations of cultism, ritual practices and other nefarious activities of suspected Maphite cult leader and his members,” the Edo State Security Squard said in the statement.

The squad leader also disclosed that despite the earlier sealing of the premises, intelligence reports confirmed that the suspects resumed their clandestine operations under the cover of darkness. Their continued defiance prompted the government’s decision to demolish the structure.

“We got credible information that the suspected cult leader Marvellous Adetarami and his members still gathered to have their meetings in this sealed bungalow, where the horrible shrine was discovered,” he revealed.

He said, “Neighbours and community members are all joyous seeing the building pulled down, as they have lived in fear following the suspect’s activities.”

Metro

My Husband Fought, Abandoned Me Cos’ I’m Barren, Woman Tells Court

Published

7 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

A woman, Wasilat Saka, has pleaded with a Grade 1 Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja (Federal Capital Territory), to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Tajudeen Jimoh, over alleged abandonment and conflicting faith beliefs.

Wasilat told the court that she got married to Jimoh under Islamic Law on July 30, 2022, adding that their marriage did not produce any children.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she alleged that Jimoh, who claimed to be a Muslim, abandoned her for months shortly after they got married while refusing to perform necessary Islamic rites.

“My husband does not observe the five daily prayers and the Ramadan fast.

“We always quarrel and fight for these reasons.

“I beg the court to grant my request of divorce,” Wasilat said.

Jimoh was absent in court despite being served with the hearing notice.

The judge, Ibrahim Rufai, adjourned the case.

Metro

Our First Child Beat Me Blue And Black After My Wife Turned Them Against Me —Man

Published

7 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…That was the easiest way I made him pay their fees —Wife

Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has given judgment on a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Tajudeen, who dragged his wife, Kafayat, to court, accusing her of showing him no love or affection.

He added that she was troublesome and violent and that she refused to let him have peace of mind.

Tajudeen stated that Kafayat was defiant and never listened to him nor took instruction from him.

The plaintiff explained that the defendant was brutal and always sought every opportunity to fight and hurt him with any dangerous object within her reach.

He added that she refused that he give their children proper training, and that she turned them against him.

According to him, the eldest of their children beat him till he was almost unconscious in the presence of his wife and she saw nothing bad in it.

Tajudeen explained that Kafayat constantly came to his office to fight and disgrace him.

The plaintiff stated that he was fed up with his wife’s unruly behaviour and thus pleaded for divorce.

Kafayat refused that their union be dissolved, stating that she and her husband jointly built their house.

The defendant did not deny being defiant and in the habit of fighting her husband even in his office.

According to her, that was the only way she made her husband commit to his responsibilities in the home and, more importantly, pay their children’s school fees.

Tajudeen, in his evidence, said, “My wife and I got married under Islamic Law and I paid her bride price.

“My marriage to my wife is void of love and care. She made our home a hell to live in.

“I no longer have a say in our home because my wife is rebellious. She never listens to me nor takes orders from me. She would turn every argument between us into a fight.

“Kafayat being a violent person always hits me with dangerous objects within her reach. The scars on my body tell the story.

“Much worse is the fact that my wife refused that I train our children and always instigates them against me.

“The strain in the relationship between our children and me led to our eldest child beating me till I almost fainted.

“My wife was present at the scene and she neither restrained our son nor rebuked him.

“My wife is still not satisfied and would come to my office to fight and disgrace me.

“My lord, I have had enough of my wife and children’s waywardness and cannot take it any longer.

“I pray this honourable court to end our marriage and grant me custody of our children so that I can give them proper training.

“I also request an order restricting her from coming to my office to fight me.”

Kafayat in her response said: “What my husband said is not totally true.

“We met in 1997 and he impregnated me.

“I started living with him although no marital rites were carried out on my behalf. He in addition did not pay my bride price.

“My lord, I do not agree to divorce because we both contributed towards building the house we are living in.

“It is true that I fight him even in his office. I discovered that was the only way I could force him to be committed to his responsibilities in the home and especially paying our children’s school fees.”

Ruling, the court president, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, said there was no marriage to be dissolved since no customary marriage was held and no bride price was paid.