A court sitting in Kaduna has sentenced two individuals, John Moses and Yakubu Mohammed to death by hanging and surgical castration for rape. A third individual, Mustapha Musa, also received a life imprisonment sentence for the same offense.
As reported by Daily Trust, Kaduna State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, disclosed these developments on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
She highlighted that the ministry secured three rape convictions between June 2024 and February 2025, marking a significant stride in the state’s efforts to combat sexual violence.
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Providing details of the convictions, Hajiya Rabi Salisu stated that on June 7, 2024, before Hon. Justice Nana in case KDH/KAD/57c/2023 (State vs. John Moses), the defendant was convicted on two counts of rape and incest under Section 258(1) of the Penal Code Law 2017 (as amended) and sentenced to death by hanging and surgical castration.
She also stated that on February 6, 2025, before Hon. Justice B. Yusuf in case KDH/KAD/69c/2023 (State vs. Yakubu Mohammed), the defendant was convicted on two counts of rape under Section 258(1) of the Penal Code Law 2017 (as amended) and received the same sentence.
She further stated that on February 24, 2025, before Hon. Justice Isa Aliyu in case KDH/KAD/66c/2021 (State vs. Mustapha Musa), the defendant was convicted on two counts of rape under Section 258 of the Penal Code Law and sentenced to life imprisonment.
These sentences are among the first to be handed down under the amended Kaduna State Penal Code Law, which was signed into effect by Governor Nasir El-Rufai in September 2020.
The law stipulates surgical castration and the death penalty for those convicted of raping a child under 14, reflecting the state’s zero-tolerance stance on sexual offenses.
Hajiya Rabi Salisu expressed hope that these convictions would serve as a deterrent to potential offenders, underscoring the state’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring justice for victims of sexual violence.
The cases were prosecuted by M.P. Danjuma Esq. and Halimatu S. Bello Esq., demonstrating the ministry’s dedication to upholding the law and safeguarding the rights of its citizens.