In what has been said to be a landmark ruling, a 22-year-old man, Rabilu Sani, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for the rape of a four-year-old girl (names withheld) in Jakusko Local Government Area, Yobe State.
- +Yobe man jailed 12 years for defiling toddler
The Magistrate’s Court 1 in Injiwaji, Damaturu, presided over by Magistrate Ahmed Mohammed Bahuya, found Sani guilty of the offence and convicted him after finding the evidence against him “conclusive.”
The Magistrate’s Court 1 in Injiwaji, Damaturu, presided over by Magistrate Ahmed Mohammed Bahuya, found Sani guilty of the offence and convicted him after finding the evidence against him “conclusive.”
The Magistrate’s court, which handed down the sentence to the culprit, gave no option of a fine.
Meanwhile, court officials seized the opportunity of the hearing to address circulating rumours about the suspect’s health.
According to the court officials, they confirmed that medical tests carried out on the culprit showed that he (Sani) is not infected with HIV.
Arewa PUNCH reports that before the confirmation of HIV-related health status of the conduct, there had been wild rumours in the air that Sani was HIV positive and as such may have infected his innocent victim and prey, who incidentally is a minor.
The case followed a determined legal push by the Yobe State Government, led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Ya Jalo Badamŕa, who vowed to ensure that justice was served.
“Justice has been done,” Badama said, emphasising the government’s commitment to protecting children.
Our correspondent recalls that the Jakusko Division arrested Rabilu Sani on November 9, 2025, at about 8:00 a.m., after detectives discovered that he had lured the four-year-old girl into a room and sexually assaulted her.
Medical examinations confirmed that the girl sustained severe injuries as a result of the assault.
