ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
No fewer than six persons have been convicted for rape related offences in Bauchi State, NATIONAL ACCORD has learnt.
The Bauchi State Solicitor-General, Aliyu Bin Idris (Esq) said the convictions were secured by the state government under the Ministry.
He said that 18 other cases are still pending in court.
Idris disclosed this during a capacity training for key stakeholders in the fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) held at Hazibal Suites conference centre in Bauchi.
He said: “The Court of Appeal had affirmed the judgement in the case of Shamsuddeen Adamu A.k.a Duna vs the State CA/J/76/C/2020, convicted for rape and sentenced to lifetime imprisonment, Abbas Usman A.k.a Gero vs the State CA/J/75/C/ 2020, convicted for the offence of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment.”
He added that the Appeallate Court also affirmed the judgement in the case of Al-Amin Yunusa A.k.a Maka vs the State CA/18/C/2020 convicted for the offence of rape and also sentenced to life imprisonment.
Idris, who is also the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Bauchi State, further disclosed that the High Court had also passed judgement on three suspects who were convicted.
“The State vs Salisu Haruna BA/45/C/2018, convicted for attempted rape and act of gross indecency, the State vs Abdulkarim Sani BA/51/C/2018, attempted rape and act of gross indecency and the State v. Shamsudeen Adamu & 2 Others BA/23/C/2018, convicted for rape, sentenced to lifetime imprisonments,” he stated.
According to him, the 18 rape cases now pending/on going in court and 2 more will be forwarded to the ministry for legal advice.
The Solicitor General commended the organizers of the training for their foresight in bringing together key stakeholders focused on SGBV.
He stressed that; “The menace of rape and other gender based violence should be of concern for all. Bauchi State government under the present administration has created the enabling environment for the prosecution of offenders.
“The onus now lays with the community, where such crimes are perpetrated and the Police to help us in ensuring that the state secure convictions through successful prosecution of offenders”.
The Permanent Secretary said that this can be achieved through diligent investigation by the Police and willing witnesses from the communities coming forward to testify.
The State Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Fatima Abubakar, while speaking on the general management of rape cases, enumerated some key responsibilities of the community in assisting the Police and the Courts towards prosecuting offenders.
“Communities should be educated on the need to report such cases as soon as it happens,” she said, “and also not to tamper with anything on the body of the victim until when all evidences are established by the authorities”.
Mrs. Abubakar, who is the Chairperson of ASHH Foundation SGBV Case Management and also Member, Bauchi State Action Committee on SGBV further revealed that, “there are some things that need to be proven during prosecution of rape cases and those evidences are only obtainable during investigations”.
She also called for closer collaboration between all stakeholders towards mitigating SGBV to the barest level.
The capacity training, organized by ASHH Foundation in collaboration with Action Aid and Global affairs Canada, had participants drawn from the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Medical Doctors, staff of the Ministry of Justice, other Ministeries, Departments and Agencies, Civil Society Organizations and the Media.
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