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Court slams life jail on Abuja man for raping 7-year-old girl

Published

3 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Court slams life jail on Abuja man for raping 7-year-old girl

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has secured the conviction of one Laminu Ahmed, 36, for the rape of a seven-year-old girl.

Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court 14 in a judgment delivered on Thursday sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The Minister’s media aide, Kamarudeen Ogundele, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

The trial judge held that the prosecutor from the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Response unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice headed by Yewande Awopetu successfully proved the case.

The convict had on 3rd January 2023 asked the victim (name withheld) to bring him a plate of food from the food her mother was selling at the Zuba Fruit Market, Abuja and lured her to follow him with the food to a public bathroom in the market.

He locked the door as soon as she entered and proceeded to sexually abuse and rape her by forcefully kissing her, inserting his fore finger into her vagina and then penis and raped her.

He clamped his hands over her mouth when she attempted to scream and threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone. Nevertheless, the little girl was brave enough to tell her mother about the rape on her return. The mother had gone out to attend a friend’s naming ceremony when the incident occurred.

She and the father had immediately reported the matter to the local vigilante who arrested the defendant and handed him over to the Police.

The defendant confessed to the crime at the Police Station in Zuba and at the FCT Command where the matter was later transferred.

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The defendant was charged to court by Prosecution Counsel from the SGBV Response Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice (representing the AGF), on an eight count charge for the offences of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and sexual abuse under the Child Rights Act; Rape, Intimidation and Infliction of bodily injury under the Violence against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015; and Criminal force under the Penal Code.

However, the defendant upon arraignment in June 2023 pleaded not guilty to all eight counts.

The prosecution opened its case against the defendant, called witness and tendered evidences including the defendant’s confessional statement and confessional video, medical report and report of investigation as well as the statements of the victim and her mother to the police as proof of investigation.

Despite Laminu’s futile attempts to deny making the confessional statement and his claim that he was forced to confess, the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against him and he was convicted and sentenced for the heinous crime he committed against the seven years old survivor.

Awopetu described it as a win for the Justice Sector particularly the SGBV Response Unit in conjunction with the Gender Unit of the FCT Police Command and the FCT Judiciary, in their fight against the scourge of sexual violence in our society.

“It is also a warning to would be perpetrators that the long arm of the law will definitely catch up with them. A key lesson for parents in this case is never to leave their kids untended in a public place.

“Laminu Ahmed’s name will be included in the Sexual Offender’s Register as is required by law,” she said.

Court slams life jail on Abuja man for raping 7-year-old girl

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NAF air strikes kill scores of bandits in Kaduna, free kidnap victims

Published

51 mins ago

November 16, 2024

Trends Admin

NAF air strikes kill scores of bandits in Kaduna, free kidnap victims

The Nigerian Air Force said on Saturday that its fighter aircraft conducted strategic airstrikes targeting major bandit enclaves located within Dunya Hill and Batauna Forest in Giwa, Kaduna State, resulting in the neutralisation of many combatants as well as the obliteration of significant stockpiles of weapons and resources critical to the bandits’ operations.

Director of NAF Public Relations, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, while disclosing this, said, “In a sign of the operation’s success, multiple reports have emerged detailing the escape and liberation of several kidnapping victims, who have managed to regain freedom amidst the chaos inflicted upon their captors.”.

He said, “In furtherance of the intense air interdiction campaign in Northwest Nigeria nicknamed Operation Farautar Mujiya, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma on November 12, 2024, conducted strategic airstrikes targeting major bandit enclaves located within Dunya Hill and Batauna Forest in Giwa, Kaduna State.

“These areas have long served as safe havens for bandit groups due to their dense vegetation and the natural protection provided by an array of caves.

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“The objective of the strikes was to dismantle the entrenched criminal networks and degrade their capacity to operate effectively.

“The airstrikes were preceded by intensive intelligence gathering that meticulously identified high-value targets, including key logistics hubs and hidden armouries used by the bandits.

“The aerial assault resulted in the neutralisation of many combatants as well as the obliteration of significant stockpiles of weapons and resources critical to the bandits’ operations.

“Since the commencement of this intensified campaign, credible sources from local communities have confirmed that bandits are on the run, their once-secure enclaves in disarray.

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Appeal court affirms Baruwa as NURTW president, renders MC Oluomo election invalid

Published

57 mins ago

November 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Musiliu Akinsanya (popularly known as MC Oluomo

Appeal court affirms Baruwa as NURTW president, renders MC Oluomo election invalid

The recent emergence of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo as National President of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has been rendered invalid.
This follows a new judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirming Tajudeen Baruwa as the re-elected NURTW president.
Newstrends recalls MC Oluomo was elected as the president of NURTW last Saturday after being the only candidate to run for the position at a South-West forum for NURTW leaders.

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He was said to have secured unanimous votes from all of the delegates in the Union’s Quadrennial Delegate Conference for Zone 2 Council of the Union held in Osogbo, Osun State.
But the appeal court in a unanimous judgement delivered on Friday, November 8, upheld the March 11, 2024 ruling of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, affirming the re-election of Tajudeen Baruwa as the president of the NURTW.