The Federal High Court sitting in Kano State has sentenced a 67-year-old Lebanese national, Zuhier R. Akar, to 14 years in prison for sexually exploiting two teenage girls.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, October 10, 2024, Justice S. M. Shu’aibu held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Akar, a resident of Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano, was charged by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) with two counts: trafficking and sexual exploitation.
In addition to the prison sentence, the judge imposed a fine of N2 million on the defendant for his offence. Justice Shu’aibu stated that there would be no option for a lesser sentence, given the nature of the crime.
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Earlier, the prosecution counsel and Kano Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Abdullahi Babale, informed the court that the Department of State Services (DSS), Kano Command, reported the case to NAPTIP on September 5, 2024. The DSS had initially received intelligence regarding Akar’s misconduct and subsequently alerted the anti-trafficking agency.
Babale disclosed that Akar committed the crime on the night of September 4 at about 10:30 p.m. He had allegedly approached the 14 and 15-year-old girls at Civic Centre Road, near Suya Spot, Kano, and lured them to his residence, where he proceeded to exploit them.
“A video of the defendant engaged in inappropriate acts with the victims was later circulated on social media,” Babale revealed.
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During the trial, the prosecution presented four pieces of evidence, including the defendant’s confession and the testimonies of the victims, which corroborated the charges brought against Akar.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charges. In a bid to mitigate the sentence, his defence counsel, Mr. R. A. Kasali, pleaded for leniency, highlighting the defendant’s age and health condition. However, the court dismissed the plea, stating that justice must be served, especially given the seriousness of the crime.
The offence contravened Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and is punishable under Section 26(1) of the same Act.
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Justice Shu’aibu’s ruling has been welcomed by anti-human trafficking advocates as a landmark decision that reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and deterring human trafficking and exploitation within the country.
This judgement serves as a stern warning to potential offenders and a step forward in the fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Nigeria.