A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Wednesday, sentenced a 31-year old man, Lawan Salisu, to three years imprisonment for sexually abusing a 10-year old boy.Salisu, of Tishama Yan Awakai Farin Bene Transformer in Nassarawa Local Government, Kano State, was convicted on a one-count charge of procurement and sexual exploitation after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Delivering judgment, Justice Simon Amobeda, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. “The offence is punishable by not less than seven years imprisonment and a fine of N1 million.“I have tempered justice with mercy as a first time offender, according to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.“I hereby sentence the convict to three years imprisonment without option of fine. This will serve as a deterrent to others as cases like this are becoming prevalent,” he said.He urged the convict to tender an apology to the victim and his family.Earlier, Mr Hassan Nuruddeen, prosecution counsel, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano Command, said the defendant committed the offence at Tishama Awakai Farin Bene Transformer Kano, on June 26.Nuruddeen said that on the same date the defendant procured the minor and sexually exploited him by defilement, in an uncompleted building at Tishama.The prosecution presented four exhibits, including the confessional statement of the convict, and the victim’s testimony to the court, to prove his case.He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and was punishable under Section 26(1) of TIP ACT 2015.The defence counsel, Mr Inuwa Umar-Ibrahim, however pleaded for leniency on behalf of the convict, as a first-time offender.(NAN)

A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 38 -year-old sales representative to six months imprisonment for fleeing after eating and drinking in a restaurant.

The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Bokkos in his judgment, ordered the convict to pay an option  of N10,000fine or spend three months in prison.

The magistrate also ordered the convict to N23,500 to the restaurant owner or another three months in prison in default.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Ibrahim Gokwat told the court that the case was reported on Aug.27, at the “A” Division Police station by one Charles Nentok, the complainant.

Gokwat said that the convict went to the restaurant, ordered food and assorted drinks worth N23,500 and took to his heels.

The prosecutor said he was later caught and taken to the police station.

The police said that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code Law.(NAN)

The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Tessy Diai, has granted freedom to one inmate, Napue Chitu, at the Warri Correctional Centre.

The Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Justice, Mr Onoriode Etatsemi disclosed this in a press statement in Asaba on Friday.

The statement said that Chitu was released by the chief judge, during a visit to the correctional centre .

It said that a total of 379 warrants were reviewed during the visit but only Chitu was released as other inmates still have ongoing cases in court.

(NAN)