Lebanese man sentenced to 14 years in prison for sexually exploiting two teenage girls

A Federal Court sitting in Kano on Thursday sentenced a 67-year-old Lebanese man, Zuhier R. Akar, to 14 years in prison for sexually exploiting two teenage girls.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Human Trafficking, Kano State Command, has charged Akar, of Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Fagge Local Government Area, Kano, with two counts of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

In delivering the verdict, Judge M A. Shu’aibu ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced the defendant to 14 years in prison without the possibility of a fine.

The judge also ordered the convict to pay an additional fine of N2 million for the offence.

Earlier, the Public Prosecutor and Kano Zone Commander NAPTIP, Mr. Abdullahi Babale, informed the court that the Department of Security Services, Kano Command, reported the matter to the agency on September 5, 2024.

Babale said the accused committed the offense on September 4, 2024 at about 10:30pm at his house at Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Kano.

“The accused seized the 14 and 15-year-old girls from Civic Center Road near Suya Spot, took them to his house and sexually abused them.

“A video was posted on social media showing the accused engaging in sexual misconduct with the victims,” Babale said.

As evidence, the public prosecutor presented four pieces of evidence to the court, including the defendant’s confession and the victims’ statements.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

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

The defense counsel, Mr. RA Kasali, pleaded for leniency on behalf of Akar.