The Jigawa State High Court No. 11, sitting in Ringim, has sentenced a 50-year-old man, Abubakar Biniya, to 10 years in prison for raping an 11-year-old girl.
Justice Muhammad El-Usman delivered the judgment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, after finding Biniya of Galadanchi Quarters, Ringim Local Government Area, guilty of the offence.
The court heard that Biniya committed the offence in January 2024 at Galadanchi Quarters, where he had unlawful sexual intercourse with the minor.
To prove its case, the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered five exhibits, including a medical report.
Biniya testified in his defence but did not call any additional witness.
Delivering judgment, Justice El-Usman said the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge also considered the convict’s plea for leniency and his status as a first-time offender before imposing the 10-year custodial sentence.
In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Biniya to pay N5,000 in compensation to the victim.
The court further directed that his name be entered in the Jigawa State Sexual Offenders Register maintained by the Ministry of Justice.
Relying on Section 3(2), (4) and (5) of the Jigawa State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, 2021, the court also ordered that his conviction and name be announced on radio.
The parties were given three months to appeal the judgment.
The Director of Information and Protocol of the Jigawa State Judiciary, Abbas Wangara, confirmed the judgment.
Wangara said the court’s orders, including the registration of Biniya as a sexual offender and the publication of his name, were made in accordance with the state’s VAPP Law.
Meanwhile, the court discharged three other defendants facing separate charges after the prosecution failed to establish the cases against them.
They included 55-year-old Sale Kurma of Tsinaho Village, Taura LGA, who was facing a rape charge; 22-year-old Mansur Ahmed of Tsira Village, Ringim LGA, also charged with rape; and Haruna Ahmadu of Marawa Village, Ringim LGA, who was standing trial for criminal conspiracy and robbery.
The prosecution was led by Aisha Umar Zandam, DDPP, and Binta Yusuf Abubakar, ADPP, of the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice, Dutse.
A.H. Hassan of Nexus Legal Hubs, Kano, represented the defence.
