Girls’ school teacher jailed 10yrs for raping 14-yr-old student

A chief magistrate’s court in Damaturu has sentenced a teacher to 10 years’ imprisonment for raping his 14-year-old student.

Daily Trust reports that the convict, Saleh Abdullahi, is a teacher with Government Girl Secondary School Ngelzarma, Yobe State.

In his judgment, the presiding magistrate, Abubakar Lamba Maluri, described the convict as unreasonable, adding that the court must rise up to give the needed defence to voiceless female students.

“Teachers are supposed to be loco parentis (parent-like) for the female students in their care not as personal property. The punishment imposed on the convict should serve as deterrent to others,” the magistrate held.

He also held that the sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment was without an option of fine.

“I also awarded a compensation of N100,000 against the convict in favour of the victim. In default of payment of the compensation, the convict shall serve additional 5 year imprisonment.

“I order that the victim shall be reinstated into the school within 14 days to continue with her studies. The order of this court shall be served on the principal of the school for immediate compliance, and the principal shall notify the registry of this court of her compliance with the order within 15 days,” the magistrate added.

Prosecution witnesses had told the court during the trial that lasted for one year that the convict committed the offence when he called the student to the chemistry laboratory in the school under pretense to deliver message to her from her mother; adding that the convict then grabbed the victim and raped her.

The 5th prosecution witness, Dr. Babagana Kolo, who examined the victim at Maryam Abatcha Maternity Hospital Damaturu, told the court in his evidence that he found a ruptured hymen and bruises and tear on the wall of her vagina wall, evidence that she was sexually assaulted.