Justice Amina Modi-Yabo of the Federal High Court, Sokoto Division, has sentenced 19-year-old Yasir Muhammad to 21 years imprisonment for raping a four-year-old girl.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Ms Modi-Yabo said that the prosecution successfully proved the case beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.

The judge said that the convict’s mere denial had no substance as witnesses corroborated that on May 16, 2025, the victim was going to school when the convict called her, removed her pants and had carnal knowledge of the girl.

She said that the testimonies of the witnesses were  direct and left no doubt as to the commission of the offence.

Ms Modi-Yabo said that the defence team was unable to disprove the evidence led by the prosecution that included six witnesses and exhibits tendered which proved having carnal knowledge of the girl.

According to her, the Supreme Court has settled issues of sexual intercourse, for the purpose of rape, incomplete penetration, consent and medical requirements on proving rape case.

Ms Modi-Yabo held that the Supreme Court repeatedly affirmed that evidence of bleeding, genital injury, or torn tissue observed shortly after rape strongly corroborates proof of sexual intercourse.

The judge said, “In the present case, the prosecutrix is a minor child living under the care and protection of her parents, so there is no scintilla of evidence, direct or circumstantial, suggesting the existence of any lawful marriage such claim were mere hypothetically raised.

”The law does not demand anatomical devastation; it requires proof of intrusion. This position has been consistently affirmed by appellate courts and has hardened into settled law.

”Court has considered the dual objectives of sentencing: the protection of society and the rehabilitation of the offender, particularly in light of Muhammad’s youth, being a 19 years of age.

”It also considered the allocutus of the convict through his counsel; this court, in passing sentence, has carefully weighed the nature and gravity of the offence, the age of the offender, the relevant statutory provisions, and the need to balance justice with the offender’s prospects for rehabilitation.”

She added that the convict had been found guilty of an offence that was grievous and profoundly reprehensible, constituting a serious violation of the bodily integrity, dignity, and innocence of a minor.

Ms Modi-Yabo said that under Section 260 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019, rape is punishable with life imprisonment or a term not less than 21 years. (NAN)