Court sentences man for assaulting schoolgirls in Kebbi

A High Court in Kebbi State has convicted a 48-year-old man, Kabiru Shekare, for sexually exploiting five underage schoolgirls.

According to reports, Justice Shamsudeen Ja’afar of High Court 7 in Birnin Kebbi delivered the judgment on April 24, 2025.

The court found Shekare guilty on counts one and two out of five charges of sexual exploitation.

He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts.

The judge gave him the option of paying N1 million fine per count in lieu of jail time.

Failure to pay the fines will attract an additional one-year jail term for each count.

Justice Ja’afar ordered that the prison terms run concurrently, starting from May 3, 2024, the day of his arrest.

The court proceedings took place in High Court 7, a court designated for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases.

The charges were brought under Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

Shekare is a resident of Makerar Gandu in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area.

The prosecution was led by Barrister Muhammad Abubakar of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.

The prosecution presented strong evidence against the accused.

They included Shekare’s confessional statement and testimonies from five 10-year-old girls.

All five are pupils of Atiku Bagudu Science Model Primary School in Makerar Gandu.

The prosecution also tendered a medical report from the Sexual Referral Centre at Kebbi Medical Centre in Kalgo.

Additionally, the court received an official letter from the school authorities requesting a full investigation and prosecution.

The defence counsel, Barrister Hamza Na-Gari, argued that the accused suffered from epilepsy and mental illness.

He submitted a medical report to back his claims.

However, Justice Ja’afar ruled the report inadmissible and proceeded with the conviction.

He said the court found no legal basis to accept the medical document.

He described the evidence provided by the prosecution as credible and consistent.

Justice Ja’afar emphasized the need to protect minors from predators and uphold the rule of law.

NAPTIP Kebbi Command investigated and prosecuted the case from start to finish.

The conviction marks a major win for child protection advocates in Kebbi State.

It also reinforces the government’s resolve to fight all forms of sexual violence against minors.

Local residents and activists have applauded the court’s verdict.

They described the ruling as a bold message to sex offenders targeting vulnerable children.

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