The Jigawa State High Court sitting in Ringim has sentenced Abubakar Biniya, 50, to 10 years in prison following his conviction for raping an 11-year-old girl.
Justice Muhammad El-Usman delivered the judgment on September 29, 2026, after holding that the prosecution had established the charge beyond reasonable doubt.
Biniya, who is from Galadanchi Quarters in Ringim Local Government Area, was prosecuted over an offence committed in January 2024.
Six witnesses, five exhibits
During the trial, the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered five exhibits, including a medical report.
The defendant testified in his own defence but did not call another witness.
After evaluating the evidence, Justice El-Usman found him guilty of the charge.
The court considered the defendant’s plea for leniency and the fact that he was a first offender before imposing the 10-year custodial sentence.
Justice El-Usman also ordered the convict to pay ₦5,000 compensation to the victim.
Name to be placed on offenders register
Beyond the custodial sentence, the court directed that Biniya’s name be entered into the Jigawa State Sexual Offenders Register maintained by the Ministry of Justice.
The judge further ordered the public announcement of his name on radio.
The court relied on Section 3(2), (4) and (5) of the Jigawa State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law No. 02 of 2021 for the additional orders.
The radio announcement makes the judgment noteworthy because it combines imprisonment with a statutory public-notification measure intended to identify convicted sexual offenders.
The Jigawa Judiciary said the orders form part of measures under the state’s VAPP Law aimed at deterring sexual offences.
Three-month appeal window
The court gave the parties three months to appeal the judgment.
That means the conviction and sentence remain subject to the convict’s constitutional and statutory appellate rights.
On the same day, the court discharged three other defendants facing unrelated rape, conspiracy and robbery charges after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish those cases.
That distinction is important: while Biniya was convicted on evidence the court found sufficient beyond reasonable doubt, the other defendants were discharged because the prosecution did not meet that evidential threshold.
The judgment again highlights the role of state VAPP legislation in strengthening legal responses to sexual violence, including offender registration and additional measures beyond imprisonment.
For LegalLinkz, it also presents an important criminal-justice lesson: serious allegations require proof beyond reasonable doubt, and where that standard is met, courts may impose both custodial and statutory protective measures.
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