2 blind homosexuals jailed for sodomy

A Minna Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced two blind homosexuals to a total of six years imprisonment without an option of fine for sexually abusing two boys.

The Magistrate, Hajiya Hauwa Yusuf, handed down the verdict after the duo of Idris Usman popularly called Bagobiri and Abubakar Sadiq pleaded guilty to the charge.

She sentenced each of them to three years in jail.

Earlier, Police Prosecutor Abdullahi Mayaki told the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in December 2016.

Mayaki said the accused had enticed two boys of ages 10 and 12 with N50 and N100 respectively before assaulting them sexually.

The offence, he said, contravened Section 19 of the Niger State Child Rights Law (Sexual Abuse and Exploitation).

Mayaki said under the law the accused should have been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment but noted that the sentence was reduced to six years because the accused persons had pleaded guilty and asked for leniency.

The Director General of the State Child Rights Agency, Hajiya Mairam Kolo, who was in court, applauded the judgment.

She commended the magistrate for ensuring that justice was done which, she said, would serve as a deterrent to others.