A Federal High Court in Kano sentenced a 67-year-old Lebanese, Zuhier R. Akar, to 14 years imprisonment for sexually exploiting two teenage girls.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Kano State Command, charged Akar of Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Fagge Local Government Area, Kano, with two counts of trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Justice M. A. Shu’aibu delivered the judgement, ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentencing the offender to 14 years in jail without the possibility of a fine.
The judge also ordered the convict to pay an additional fine of N2 million for the offence.
Earlier, Mr. Abdullahi Babale, prosecution counsel and Kano Zonal Commander NAPTIP, told the court that the Department of Security Services, Kano Command, reported the incident to the agency on September 5, 2024.
Babale stated that the defendant committed the offence on September 4, 2024, at approximately 10:30 p.m. at his home on Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Kano.
“The defendant procured the 14 and 15-year-old girls at the Civic Centre Road near Suya Spot, took them to his house, and sexually exploited them.
“A video of the defendant having sexual misconduct with the victims was posted on social media,” Babale said.
To prove its case, the prosecution presented four documents to the court, including the defendant’s confessional statement and evidence from the victims.
The defendant admitted guilt to the charge. He stated that the offence violates Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and is penalised under Section 26(1) of the TIP ACT 2015.
Mr. R. A. Kasali, the defence counsel, begged for leniency on behalf of Akar.
