BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto-
A Magistrate Court sitting in Sokoto on Tuesday sentenced Aminu Hayatau Tafida, a son of the Special Adviser on Social Investments to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and two others to a four years and six months imprisonment wih an option of fine of 400,000 naira each for circulating an 18 seconds nude video, criminal conspiracy, abetment, sales and printing of obscene book
Those sentenced along the Special Advisers’ son include, Umar Abubakar and Masaud Abubakar Gidado.
Delivering his judgment in the case which has suffered several adjournments, Cheif Magistrate Shu’ aibu Ahmad, said the prosecuting counsel has proven his case beyond any reasonable doubts and as such the three accused persons are therefore convicted for the very offenses put forward before them.
While citing section 209 ACJN of Sokoto 2019, Magistrate Shu’aibu, however, gave oppurtunity to the counsels to the defendants to make any other submission before reading his sentences.
On the strength of that, counsels to all the defendants separately but unanimously said they did not intent to call any other witness.
They however pleaded that justice should be tempered with mercy on grounds that all the defendants are youths who has future before them and first time offenders, hence the need to consider option of fine as well.
“We are appealing to this honurable Court to show liniency in its sentence, more so that they have all shown remorsefulness over their acttions. We are therefore appealing that other options should also be considered as sentencing convicts is no longer a fashion this time around. And if in the case this court so wish to sentence them, the court should be liberal taking into cognisance, the economic hardhsip being faced this time around. Your worship sir, we so appealed'”.
In his sentence, the Presiding Magistrate, Shuaibu Ahmad said he has taken into consideration that the defendants are first time offenders, and he would therefore be linient but gives maximum sentence.
Magisrate Shu’aibu said, for the offences of indecent act which goes contrary to Section 171 of Sokoto State Penal Code, the defendants are sentenced to pay a fine of two hundred thousand naira (200,000) each which default will lead to 2 years imprisonment.
He said for the offence of sharing and sales of obsence book, the defendants are sentenced to pay 50,000 each for which defiant will lead to 2 years imprisonment.
The magistrate, further, said for the offence of abatement, Section 48 of the Sokoto Penal Code provides 50,000 naira or conviction for 6 months in the case of defiant.
Shu’aibu also said each of the defendants is to pay hundred thousand naira (100,000) compensation to the complainant.
Reacting to the development, both the prosecutor, ASP Simon Sule and the complainant, said they are satisfied with the judgement, hence according to them, the pronouncements would serve as deterents to others.
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