From Uche Uche, Damaturu
The Damaturu Senior Magistrate Court 11 has sentenced a 19 year-old man, Abba Jatau, a resident of Abba Ibrahim Housing Estate, Damaturu, on two count charges of criminal trespass, and causing hurt, while the third count charge of rape was adjourned for hearing.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Paul Wilson told the court that the case was reported by one Habiba Mohammed at the ‘C’ division on the 9th of July, 2014 at about 1400 hours and was later transferred to the Criminal investigation Department, Damaturu on the 11 of August, 2014, for investigation.
He told the court that on 9th of July, 2014 at about 1400 hours, one Habiba Mohammed of Abari ward in Damaturu, capital of Yobe state, reported that on the same date at about 0900 hours, she was at home with her in-law, one Hauwa when a man, identified later as Abba Jatau of same address, trespassed into her house on the pretext that he was sent by her landlord to renovate her house.
He further told the court that the accused person sent the complainant’s in-law to buy him an insecticide, then took a shovel pretending to pack sand but in a twist of action went into the complainant’s bedroom with a mortar pestle in his hand.
He told the court that the accused person then threatened to hit the complainant if she refused to lie down on her bed and allow him have carnal knowledge of her.
The prosecutor added that when the complainant refused, the accused person hit her with the pestle on her head and she fell down and sustained injury, and as a result of her helpless situation, the accused person perpetrated the act against her will.
He told the court that the offences contradict sections 351,246, and 283 of the penal code law.
The accused person, Abba Jatau pleaded guilty to the first and second count charges of criminal trespass and causing hurt but pleaded not guilty for the third charge of rape.
The presiding judge, Gambo A. Ibrahim convicted the accused person on two count charges and sentenced him to six months imprisonment or a fine of N3000.00 for criminal trespass and also sentenced him to three months imprisonment or a fine of N2, 500.00 for the offence of causing hurt.
The case was adjourned to September 3, 2014 for hearing on the third count charge of rape.
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