Gateman bags life imprisonment for sexual assault, another gets 15 years

<p>Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro of Asaba High Court, yesterday, convicted and sentenced a gate man, Idris Hassan, 35, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old minor.</p>, <p>The convict was arraigned before the court on a count charge of sexual assault, punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C21 Vol. 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.</p>, <p>Hassan allegedly on August 22, 2022, had unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor, aged eight years, whereby he pleaded not guilty to the charge.</p>, <p>The prosecution led by Director, Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and Childs’ Rights Unit, in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Patricia Uche Akamagwuna, called six witnesses, and tendered confessional statements of the convict.</p>, <p>The prosecution told the court that the survivor was at home with her two elder siblings, when Idris Hassan, a gate man to their neighbour, lured her to come and ‘take biscuits’, and when she got there, the defendant forced himself on her.</p>, <p>The survivor’s neighbour caught the convict in the act, and he was subsequently, arrested by officers of the Nigerian Police ‘B’ Division, Asaba.</p>, <p>Hassan, in his defence, denied the charge and retracted the confessional statement, stating that there was no sexual contact between him and the survivor.</p>, <p>Delivering his judgment, Justice Marshall-Umukoro held that he believed the evidence of the prosecution, and that the prosecution had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt. The court, thereafter, convicted and sentenced Idris Hassan to life imprisonment</p>, <p>ALSO, another High Court sitting at Kwale, yesterday, sentenced Goodness Ezekiel to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for sexual assault.</p>, <p>The court, however, discharged and acquitted his co-defendant, one Peace Nigeria. The defendants were arraigned for sexual assault on September 7, 2021, in charge No: number HCK/31c/2022.</p>, <p>The first defendant, Nigeria, was arraigned on a three-count charge of aiding, abetting