20 year-old man bags 21 years imprisonment for sexual Assault, murder of four years old girl

A High Court of Edo State in Auchi has sentenced a 20 years old  man, Sufiyan Ahmed, to 21 years in the correctional centre for sexual assault and murder of a four-year-old girl identified as Umuaiman Suleman.   The offence was committed in Egbetua Quarters in Ososo, Akoko-Edo local government area on April 21st 2019.
Delivering judgment on a two-count charge of defilement and murder, Justice Philip Imoedemhe said that all the evidences tendered convinced the court beyond a reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the offence.   Justice Imoedemhe said: “The evidence before me shows the defendant is guilty as charged and convicted to 21 years in prison,” ordering immediately that the convict be taken to the Auchi Correctional Centre to serve his jail term.  The Prosecutor, Lauretta Asaka told the court that the offence is punishable Under Section 401 of the Administration of Criminal Justice, Laws of  Edo State 2016.  Reacting to the judgment an uncle to the victim, Yakubu Tijani said “I am so very grateful on the success of this case which has finally gotten justice today.”   Also in a statement, the Executive Director, BraveHeart Initiative, Ms. Priscilla Usiobaifo, described the judgement as welcomed development saying “The conviction brings to rest a three-year struggle for justice for Umuaiman Suleman – a girl that was gruesomely assaulted and murdered.”    According to Usiobaifo, “BraveHeart Initiative’s efforts in strengthening the criminal justice system in Edo State have so far led to the successful conviction of Twenty-Three (23) Sex Offenders.    “As of April 2022, the organisation has completed twenty five SGBV cases in court. Twenty-Two (22) victories have been recorded and three (3) cases lost.”