A Kano State High Court has sentenced a 32-year-old man, Muhammad Zulfalalu, also known as "Mai Siket," to 20 years in prison for raping an 85-year-old woman.
Zulfalalu, a resident of Gidan Kwano in Kwanar Dangora, Kiru Local Government Area, was convicted on a nine-count charge bordering on rape and housebreaking.
Delivering judgment, Justice Aisha Mahmoud ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court sentenced the defendant to 20 years' imprisonment for rape and six years for housebreaking, with both terms to run concurrently. The judge also ordered him to pay N500,000 in compensation to the victim.
According to the prosecution, the offences were committed between August 2019 and June 2020 in Gidan Kwano, Kiru Local Government Area. Prosecuting counsel Aisha Yakubu-Adamu told the court that the defendant unlawfully entered the victim's home at night and raped her.
She further alleged that before his arrest, Zulfalalu had repeatedly entered homes at night while naked to sexually assault young girls and women. The prosecution called six witnesses during the trial.
The offences were said to contravene Sections 283 and 356 of the Penal Code. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges.
Reacting to the judgment, Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude (SAN), described the conviction as a step towards strengthening public confidence in the justice system and protecting vulnerable members of society.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Dr Abubakar Tijjani-Ibrahim, the attorney-general commended the prosecuting counsel, Aisha Yakubu-Adamu, for handling the case.
Kabiru-Maude reaffirmed the state government's commitment to ensuring accountability, protecting the rights and dignity of citizens, and prosecuting criminal offences without delay.
He also said sexual and gender-based violence remains a serious concern and warned that offenders would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. He further praised lawyers in the Ministry of Justice for their efforts and urged them to maintain professional standards in the delivery of justice.
