Court sets aside conviction of man charged with impregnating neighbour’s 17-year-old daughter

An Upper Sharia Court in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Thursday set aside the conviction of a man, Rabiu Ibrahim, by a Sharia Court.

The Sharia Court in Sabon Gari, Zaria convicted Ibrahim of impregnating his neighbour’s 17-year-old daughter.

But delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Alhaji Musa Hunkuyi returned the case to Sharia Court II, Sabon Gari Zaria for re-trial.

Hunkiyi held that the lower court erred by turning a civil matter into criminal matter and convicted Ibrahim for impregnating the girl.

Our correspondent that in December 2020, Ibrahim instituted a case against the girl before a Sharia Court II, Sabon Gari-Zaria, seeking for an order to discharge him from claims that he impregnated her.

On Sept. 13, 2021, the Sharia Court presided over by Shittu Umar, found Ibrahim guilty of impregnating the girl.

Our correspondent reports that Ibrahim was subsequently sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N60,000.

However, the girl, through her counsel, A.U. Hajji and Associates, appealed the judgment of Sharia Court II, Sabon Gari, to Upper Sharia Court II Zaria, seeking for a review of the judgment.

Speaking after the court sitting, Counsel of the Appellant, Miss Shafaátu Nasirideen expressed satisfaction with the judgment of the court.

In his response, the respondent, represented by Mr Uwaisu Adamu, also expressed satisfaction with the judgment adding that his client was the one who instituted the initial case and would ensure the directives of the court is followed to the later.