The Jigawa State High Court No. 11, sitting in Ringim, handed down the judgment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Abubakar Biniya, a 50-year-old man from Galadanchi Quarters, Ringim Local Government Area, was found guilty of raping an 11-year-old girl. Justice Muhammad El-Usman delivered the verdict after the prosecution presented its case. The court considered Biniya's plea for leniency and his status as a first-time offender during sentencing.
According to the Director of Information and Protocol of the Jigawa State High Court, Abbas Rufa’i Wangara, Biniya committed the offence in January 2024 at Galadanchi Quarters, Ringim. The prosecution, led by the Ministry of Justice, called six witnesses and presented five exhibits, including a medical report, to support the case. Biniya testified in his defence but did not call any other witnesses to corroborate his testimony.
In addition to the 10-year custodial sentence, the court ordered Biniya to pay N500,000 in compensation to the victim. The court also directed that his name be published in the Jigawa State Sexual Offenders Register maintained by the Ministry of Justice. Furthermore, the court ordered that Biniya be publicly shamed through radio announcements, as per Section 3(2), (4) and (5) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law No. 02 of 2021.
The court gave both parties three months to appeal the judgment. The case was one of several others heard by the court on the same day. In separate judgments, the court discharged Sale Kurma, 55, of Tsinaho Village, Taura LGA, and Mansur Ahmed, 22, of Tsira Village, Ringim LGA, who were facing rape charges.
The court also discharged Haruna Ahmadu of Marawa Village, Ringim LGA, who was charged with criminal conspiracy and robbery. The three defendants were discharged after the prosecution failed to establish the charges against them. The court heard all the cases and delivered its verdicts on September 29, 2026.
The judgments demonstrate the court's commitment to upholding the law and protecting victims of sexual offences. By publishing the convict's name in the Sexual Offenders Register and ordering public shaming, the court aims to deter others from committing similar crimes. The VAPP Law No. 02 of 2021 provides a framework for prosecuting and punishing perpetrators of violence against persons.
The case highlights the importance of reporting and prosecuting cases of sexual violence. The victim's courage in reporting the incident and cooperating with the prosecution helped bring the perpetrator to justice. The court's decision sends a strong message that perpetrators of sexual offences will be held accountable for their actions.
Key points
- The convict was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and ordered to pay N500,000 in compensation to the victim.
- The court also ordered that the convict's name be published in the Jigawa State Sexual Offenders Register.
- Three other defendants were discharged after the prosecution failed to establish the charges against them.
