A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Wednesday, separately sentenced two men to seven years imprisonment each for sexual exploitation.

The convicts are Murtala Adamu, 26, and Ahmed Sani, 27.

Justice S.M. Shu’aibu, summarily tried, convicted, and sentenced the convicts after both pleaded guilty to the charges of procurement and sexual exploitation.

The prosecuting agency was the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Kano State Command.

It had arraigned Adamu, of Unguwa Uku Layin Malam Gali, Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State on one count charge of procurement and sexual exploitation.

Mr Shu’aibu convicted Adamu, saying the prosecutor, Mr Abdullahi Babale, had proven his case beyond all reasonable doubt, and consequently sentenced him to seven years imprisonment without option of fine.

Mr Babale told the court that the defendant committed the offence on October 12, at Unguwa Uku Layin Malam Ghali.

He said, “On the same date the defendant procured the 13-year-old, who hails from Unguwa Uku Kwana Shida, and took her to an uncompleted building situated at Layin Malam Ghali and sexually exploited her”

Mr Babale presented four exhibits including the confessional statement of the defendant and the victim’s testimony to the court to prove his case.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 26(1) of TIP ACT 2015.

The defence counsel, Fauziyya Muhammad, pleaded for leniency on behalf of her client.

Similarly, the court also sentenced Mr Sani to seven years imprisonment for sexually exploiting a 15-year-old girl.

The prosecutor had told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in September at Gayawa Ungogo LGA.

He alleged that the defendant procured for himself the 15-year-old girl, who hails from Kuka Daya Kwanan Babanan Mai Nama Ungoggo LGA and sexually exploited her on several occasions at his friend’s shop situated at Yan Madara Ungogo.

The prosecutor also presented four exhibits, including the defendant’s confessional statement and the victim’s testimony to prove his case.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under Sec 26(1) of TIP ACT 2015.

The defence counsel, Mr I.I. Ibrahim also pleaded for leniency on behalf of Sani.

Justice Shu’aibu, held that the prosecutor also proved his case beyond the reasonable doubt, and sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment without option of fine.

(NAN)