Sexual Exploitation: Lebanese Man Bags 14 Years Jail Term In Kano
For sexually exploiting two teenage girls, a 67-year-old Lebanese National, Zuhier R Akar, has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with no option of fine by Federal High Court in Kano.
In delivering its judgment, the Court presided over by Justice S M Shu’aibu, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond the reasonable doubt.
Consequently, Justice Shu’aibu sentenced the defendant to 14 years imprisonment while also ordering him to pay an additional fine of N2 million for the offence.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano Command, had dragged Akar of Gidan Wanka, Unity Road in Fagge Local Government Area, Kano, before the Court on a two-count charge of trafficking and sexual exploitation.
In the course of proceedings, the Prosecution counsel and Kano Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Abdullahi Babale, told the court that the Department of State Security Service (DSS) Kano Command, reported the offence to the Agency on 5th September 2024.
Babale said in his testimony that the defendant committed the offence on September 4, at about 10:30 p.m at his house situated at Gidan Wanka, Unity Road Kano.
According to him; “The defendant procured the 14 and 15 year old girls at the Civic Centre Road near Suya Spot, took them to his house and sexually exploited them.
“A video of the defendant having sexual misconduct with the victims was posted on social media”.
Additionally, four exhibits, including the confessional statement of the defendant and the victims’ testimony, were presented to the Court by the prosecution to prove its case.
He said the offence contravenes the provisions of section 16 (1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under Sec 26 (1) of TIP ACT 2015.
With the defendant pleading guilty to the charge, his counsel, Mr R A Kasali, pleaded for leniency.