Kano: Lebanese bags 14-year jail term for sexually exploiting teenage girls

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has sentenced a 67-year-old Lebanese national, Zuhier R. Akar, to 14 years imprisonment for sexually exploiting two teenage girls.

However, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Kano Command arraigned Akar of Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Fagge Local Government Area, Kano, with a two-count charge on trafficking and sexual exploitation.

While delivering the judgement, Justice S. M. Shu’aibu held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Also, Justice Shu’aibu sentenced the defendant to 14 years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

Accordingly, the judge also ordered him to pay an additional fine of N2 million for the offence.

However, earlier, the Prosecution counsel and Kano Zonal Commander NAPTIP, Mr Abdullahi Babale, told the court that the Department of State Security Service (DSS) Kano Command reported the matter to the agency on Sept.5, 2024.

Babale then stated that the defendant committed the offence on Sept.4, at about 10:30 at his house situated at Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Kano.

He disclosed that “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.

Saddening and pathetic,”A video of the defendant having sexual misconduct with the victims was posted on social media,” Babale said

Then the prosecution presented four exhibits, including the confession of the defendant and the victims’ testimony, to the court to prove its case.

However, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

He added that “the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and is punishable under Section 26(1) of TIP ACT 2015.

However, the defence counsel, Mr. R. A. Kasali, pleaded for leniency on behalf of Akar.

ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• Fuel price hike: Deregulation fully taking place — IPMAN

• Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Umahi threatens to terminate RCC contract

• Reps to probe Buhari’s tax credit scheme

• Senate summons Umahi over ‘abandoned’ old Oyo-Ogbomosho road

• Take decisive action to avert Rivers crisis, Senator Natasha urges Tinubu

• Aftermath of Supreme Court ruling: How Nigerian states raced to conduct LG polls

Kano: Lebanese bags 14-year jail term for sexually exploiting teenage girls