- Kogi Court found Husseini Mustapha guilty of raping a minor after strong evidence was presented.
- Justice Hauwa Yusuf sentenced the convict to life imprisonment under the Child Rights Law.
- The accused was acquitted of conspiracy due to lack of proof linking him to an alleged accomplice.
- Prosecutor Kunle Tolufase praised the verdict, calling it a deterrent against future rape cases.
The Kogi State High Court in Anyigba has convicted and sentenced a man named Husseini Mustapha to life imprisonment for the offence of rape.
Mustapha was arraigned in 2024 on charges of conspiracy and rape, contrary to Section 97(2) of the Kogi State Penal Code, 2019, and Section 31(2) of the Child Rights Law of Kogi State.
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According to court documents, the crime occurred on November 14, 2024, at Ajakeya, Abocho, in Dekina Local Government Area. The victim, a minor whose identity was withheld, was walking with her sister to a prayer ground when Mustapha intercepted them and forcefully dragged her into a nearby bush, where he raped her.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Justice Hauwa Yusuf found the accused guilty of rape after thoroughly assessing the evidence. The judge described the act as “inhuman and condemnable,” before sentencing Mustapha to life imprisonment.
However, the court acquitted him of the conspiracy charge, citing the absence of credible evidence linking him to an alleged accomplice still at large.
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Following the judgment, the prosecuting counsel, Kunle Tolufase, Esq., a Principal Legal Officer with the Kogi State Ministry of Justice, commended the court for the well-delivered verdict. He said the decision would serve as a clear warning to anyone involved in rape or other sexual offences across the state.
Tolufase added that the ruling reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting minors and ensuring justice for victims of sexual violence.
