Sexual exploitation: Lebanese man gets 14 years in prison in Kano

For sexually exploiting two teenage girls, a 67-year-old Lebanese national, Zuhier R Akar, has been sentenced by the Federal High Court in Kano to 14 years in prison without the possibility of fine.

In delivering its judgment, the Court, presided over by Justice SM Shu’aibu, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Consequently, Justice Shu’aibu sentenced the suspect to 14 years in prison while also sentencing him to pay an additional fine of N2 million for the offence.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano Command, had arraigned Akar of Gidan Wanka, Unity Road in Fagge Local Government Area, Kano, before the Court on two counts of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

During the course of the proceedings, the Prosecutor and Zone Commander of NAPTIP in Kano, Mr. Abdullahi Babale, told the court that the Kano Command of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) reported the offense to the Agency on September 5, 2024.

Babale in his testimony said the suspect committed the offense on September 4 at about 10.30pm at his house at Gidan Wanka, Unity Road Kano.

According to him; “The accused obtained the 14 and 15-year-old girls at Civic Center Road near Suya Spot, took them to his house and sexually exploited them.

“A video was posted on social media showing the suspect engaging in sexual misconduct with the victims.”

In addition, four pieces of evidence, including the suspect’s confessional statement and the victims’ testimonies, were presented to the Court by the Prosecution to prove its case.

He said the offense contravenes the provisions of Section 16 (1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and is punishable under Sec 26 (1) of TIP ACT 2015.

While the suspect pleads guilty to the charges, his counsel, Mr RA Kasali, pleaded for leniency.