Lebanese picks up 14-year jail term for having sex with girls  14, 15 years

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Thursday sentenced a 67-year-old Lebanese,  Zuhier R Akar, to 14 years’ imprisonment.

The Lebanese was jailed  for sexually exploiting two teenage girls.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Kano Command, arraigned Akar on two counts bordering on trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Delivering judgment, Justice M A. Shuaibu held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He subsequently sentenced the defendant to 14 years’ imprisonment without option of fine.

The judge also ordered the convict to pay an additional fine of N2 million for the offence.

The prosecution counsel and Kano Zonal Commander NAPTIP, Mr. Abdullahi Babale, had earlier informed the court that the Department of State Service, Kano Command, transferred the matter to the agency on September 5, 2024.

Babale explained that the defendant committed the offence on 4th of September, 2024 around 10.30pm  at his house situated at Gidan Wanka, Unity Road Kano.

He had said, “The defendant procured the 14 years and 15 year old girls at the Civic Centre Road near Suya Spot, took them to his house and sexually exploited them.

“A video of the defendant having sex with the victims was posted on social media.”

The prosecution presented four exhibits including the confessional statement of the defendant and the victims testimony to the court to prove its case.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

Babale had said the offences contravene the provisions of section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 26(1) of TIP ACT 2015. 

The defence counsel, Mr R A Kasali, had pleaded for leniency on behalf of Akar.