Lebanese Jailed 14 years For Se*ual Abuse Of Minors In Kano

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

For subjecting two Nigerian teenage girls to se*ual abuse and exploitation, a Lebanese National, Zuhier R Akar is to spend the next 14 years in Nigeria’s Correctional facility, a Federal High Court in Kano has ruled.

Hon Justice M.A Shu’aibu gave the order while ruling in a two count charge of human trafficking and se*ual exploitation filed against the Lebanese by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, Kano State Command.

The Presiding Judge in his ruling sentenced the  accused to 14 years in jail without an option of fine.

He said the prosecution  proved  its case beyond any reasonable doubt.

NAPTIP had, earlier, in its submission, noted that the matter was reported to it by Department of State Services, DSS, Kano State Command, on September, 5, 2024.

According to the Kano Zonal coordinator of the agency, Abdullahi Babale Akar, the Lebanese committed the said offence at his residence on Gidan Wanka Unity Road, Kano, on September 4, 2024.

According to the NAPTIP Coordinator, the defendant procured the two victims aged between 14 and 15 on Civic Centre Road near Suya Spot.

He, subsequently, took them home and se*ually abused them.

The se*ual exploits, Babale stated, was captured in a video which was posted on the social media, he averred .

In the course of prosecution, four key exhibits, including the confessional statement of the accused were tendered.

Instructively, the accused in the face of  overwhelming evidence pleaded guilty, thus making the trial one of the shortest in recent times.

However,ba plea for leniency mounted by the defendant’s counsel,  R.A Kasali was ignored as the  trial Judge also ordered the convict to pay N2 million in addition to the jail term.