Kano Rape Case: 16-Year Raped in deserted Offices

Two of the three dismissed policemen standing trial on a 13-count charge for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl last year, used abandoned offices belonging to a telecommunications company and a political party, to perpetrate the crime.

This was disclosed by the police officer, who investigated the case, Corporal Abdulsalam Sale, during the cross-examination of the three accused persons, and four witnesses before Justice Tani Yusuf Hassan of the Kano High Court.

In the main body of evidence presented before the court, Corporal Abdulsalam Sale stated that ex-Inspector Dantalle Mohammed had in the month of October, taken the victim to the deserted political party office so as to carry out the crime without being discovered.

Corporal Sale, also told the court that the victim was also taken to an isolated office belonging to a telecommunications company by ex-Constable Yusuf Ibrahim, alias Shanawa, where she was raped by one Shehu Haladu, who is still at large.

The judge hearing the case, Justice Tani Yusuf Hassan, admitted all the presentations made before her, and adjourned the case to the February 11, 2011 for further cross-examination.

The police authorities had fired the three officers, after an orderly room trial, and handed them over to the Kano State Attorney General and Commission of Justice for prosecution.

The three accused persons are being prosecuted for illegally seducing the 16-year old girl, with the criminal intent to make her undergo illicit sexual intercourse for about 28 days in October, 2010.

They had since pleaded not guilty to the 13-count charge hanging on their necks.

Meanwhile, given the scandalous nature of the crime, and the immense interest it has generated among Nigerians, some women activists, who have been following the court proceedings, appeared excited over the prosecution of the three ex-police officers.

Their leader, Barrister Fatima Kwaku told Channels Television that the trial of the accused persons would serve as a deterrent to people who perpetrate, or who intend to perpetrate acts of violence against women.