Court acquits man accused of raping 5-year-old girl

An Upper Area Court in Yola has on Tuesday acquitted a 25-year-old man accused of raping a five-year old girl.

Muhammed Aliyu, a security guard was charged by the police with act of gross indecency, punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code.

The Presiding Judge, Umar Isa, discharged and acquitted the accused on grounds that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Isa held that the witnesses presented by the prosecutor did not convince the court as their submissions cast doubt in the mind of the court.

“In view of all I have said and plethora of authorities cited inter alia, I am satisfied that the prosecution failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and the accused is therefore entitled to be discharged,” the judge said.

Discharging and acquitting the auspect, the judge said the parties had 30 days within which to file an appeal if they were not satisfied with the judgment of the court.

Human rights groups in the state have expressed dissatisfaction with the court judgement.

Ms. Nuwama Ishaku, the Human Right Desk Officer of the Women and Adolescents Empowerment – an organisation that monitored the case – described the judgement as shocking.

“We are going to sit with other groups under the Adamawa Coalition Against Rape to discuss the next line of action on this case,” Ms. Ishaku said