by Nurat Uthman
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Thursday sentenced a 67-year-old Lebanese, Zuhier R Akar, to 14 years imprisonment for sexually exploiting two teenage girls.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Kano Command, arraigned Akar of Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Fagge Local Government Area, Kano with a two-count charge of trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Delivering judgment, Justice M A. Shu’aibu, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced the defendant to 14 years imprisonment without the option of a fine.
The judge also ordered the convict to pay an additional fine of N2 million for the offence.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel and Kano Zonal Commander NAPTIP, Mr Abdullahi Babale, informed the court that the Department of State Security Service, Kano Command, reported the matter to the agency on September 5, 2024.
Babale said that the defendant committed the offence on September 4, 2024, at about 10:30 pm at his house situated at Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Kano.
“The defendant procured the 14 and 15 years old girls at the Civic Centre Road near Suya Spot, took them to his house, and sexually exploited them.
“A video of the defendant having sexual misconduct with the victims was posted on social media,” Babale said.
The prosecution presented four exhibits, including the confessional statement of the defendant and the victim’s testimony, to the court to prove its case.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
He said that the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and is punishable under Section 26(1) of TIP ACT 2015.
The defence counsel, Mr R. A. Kasali, pleaded for leniency on behalf of Akar.
