By Uboh-Ekong Treasure
Kano State High Court has sentenced a football team coach, Hayatu Muhammed, to eight years imprisonment for sodomising a minor player under his supervision.
Justice Musa Dahuru Muhammad, who presided over the case, found Muhammed guilty of committing the offence on two separate occasions at different locations in Sanka, Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.
The prosecution told the court that the convict, a local football coach, lured the minor and had carnal knowledge of him, in violation of Section 284 of the Penal Code Law, which prohibits unnatural sexual acts.
During the trial, the prosecution called five witnesses to testify against the defendant, while Muhammed served as the sole witness in his defence. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After reviewing the evidence presented, Justice Dahuru Muhammad ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently sentenced the defendant to four years imprisonment on each of the two counts, to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of eight years in prison.
The judge, however, did not grant an option of fine, stating that the punishment was intended to serve as a deterrent to others.
