The Court of Appeal, sitting in Sokoto, has sentenced Sani Ibrahim to life imprisonment for sodomising two Qur’anic school pupils, commonly referred to as Almajiris.
In a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, the appeal court overturned the judgement of the lower court, which had imposed a lighter sentence. The lower court had sentenced Ibrahim to three years’ imprisonment for trespassing, a decision the state contested at the Court of Appeal.
Justice Tobi stated that the lower court erred in ruling that the testimonies of PW2 and PW3, who were the victims, were insufficient to convict the respondent of the alleged unnatural offence.
“These are direct eyewitness accounts, which should not have been disregarded by the lower court,” he remarked.
He further noted that the medical report of PW3 confirmed evidence of penetration. Justice Tobi underscored that the offence was not only condemnable but a crime against nature.
“I therefore set aside the judgement of the lower court and sentence the respondent to life imprisonment,” he affirmed.
Speaking shortly after the judgement, Chief State Counsel, Barrister Murtala Gidanmadi, welcomed the verdict, stating that it would serve as a deterrent to those committing unnatural acts.
