By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State High Court sitting in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area, has sentenced a 28-year-old man, Husseini Mustapha, to life imprisonment for raping a minor.
Mustapha was charged in 2024 with conspiracy, punishable under Section 97(2) of the Kogi State Penal Code, 2019, and rape, contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child Rights Law of Kogi State.
According to court records, the offence was committed on November 14, 2024, at Ajakeya-Abocho in Dekina Local Government Area. The convict reportedly accosted the victim, who was in the company of her sister on their way to a prayer ground, and dragged her into a nearby bush, where he raped her.
Delivering judgment, Justice Hauwa Yusuf said after reviewing all the evidence presented, the court found the accused guilty of rape and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
However, the court discharged and acquitted Mustapha on the charge of criminal conspiracy, citing a lack of evidence linking him to any alleged accomplice who was said to be at large.
Reacting to the verdict, Prosecuting Counsel Kunle Tolufase, Esq., a Principal Legal Officer with the Kogi State Ministry of Justice, commended the court for what he described as a well-considered and thorough judgment.
Tolufase said the conviction would serve as a deterrent to others who might consider committing similar offences, adding that the judgment reinforces the state’s commitment to protecting minors and ensuring justice for victims of sexual abuse.
