A Jigawa High Court in Gumel presided by Justice A.M. Sambo has discharged and acquitted Salisu Abdul who was arraigned for the offence of rape punishable under Section 3 of the Penal Code (Miscellaneous Amendment) Law No 9, 2014.
The suspect, who was accused of defiling a 7-year-old girl, was acquitted on 10 November, 2021, the Public Relations Officer, Jigawa Ministry of Justice, Zainab Baba Santali said in a statement on Tuesday 16 November 2021.
The defendant, who hails from Rairaigamafada village of Gumel local government area of Jigawa State was accused of luring thr 7-year-old primary school pupil to his house at Bariki Quarters.
Read also: Benjamin Mendy: Manchester City defender charged with two additional counts of rape
He was accused to have given the victim some money and had canal knowledge of her and was arraigned before High Court sitting at Gumel on 3 December 2019 but he pleaded not guilty of the charge.
The prosecution in proving its case called three witnesses and tendered three exhibits while the defense called two witnesses including the defendant himself.
The court after analyzing the evidence found that the offence of rape has not been proven by the prosecution. The court held that it was in a strong doubt as to the culpability of the defendant.
According to the court, the prosecutor could not identify the defendant as the person who allegedly defiled her and the proper procedure for identification parade was not followed by the police at the Gumel Police Division.
The court thereby discharged and acquitted the defendant.
