Why Jigawa High Court sentenced man to death by hanging

A High Court in Jigawa State has sentenced Abubakar Muhd, also known as Akuya, to death by hanging for raping a 15-year-old boy, in addition to ordering him to pay N5 million as compensation to the victim.

PUNCH Online learnt that although the case was filed in March 2022, prosecution was delayed for a long period due to several factors, including the need to gather additional evidence and secure the testimony of witnesses.
It was gathered that the matter was initially treated as a sodomy case. However, following the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in Jigawa State, the charge was reviewed and reclassified as rape.

The law expanded the definition of rape to include same-sex offences, thereby enabling the prosecution to pursue a more serious charge against the defendant.
While delivering judgment on Thursday, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Ado Yusif Birnin-Kudu, held that Muhd was guilty of raping a 15-year-old boy from Nomi Village in Taura Local Government Area of the state.
Justice Birnin-Kudu stated that the offence was committed contrary to Section 3(1)(a) and (b) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and punishable under Sections 3(2), 4 and 5 of the VAPP Law, 2012, as applicable in Jigawa State.
The court further found the convict guilty of unlawfully having carnal knowledge of the minor and consequently sentenced him to death by hanging. In addition to the capital punishment, the judge ordered Muhd to pay the sum of N5 million as compensation to the victim.
Reacting to the judgment, the prosecution counsel, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice, Barrister Yahaya Abdullahi, described the verdict as sound and justly delivered. He noted that the ruling would serve as a strong deterrent to others who might contemplate committing similar crimes.
Abdullahi also commended the state judiciary for its unwavering commitment to justice and the protection of citizens’ rights, adding that the prosecution presented compelling evidence that led to the conviction of the offender.
Speaking further on the development, the Director of Publicity and Protocol of the Jigawa State Judiciary, Abbas Wangara, praised the court’s decision, saying it sends a strong warning to potential offenders. He reaffirmed the Jigawa State Government’s commitment to the full enforcement of the VAPP Law and other legal instruments aimed at protecting citizens from all forms of violence.
Efforts by our correspondent to obtain comments from the convict were unsuccessful, as he declined to speak on the judgment. Likewise, his counsel, Barrister Lauiza of the Legal Aid Council, Jigawa State Office, also declined to comment on whether an appeal would be filed.
The convict has been remanded in custody pending the execution of the sentence.