The General Court Martial 7 Division of the Nigerian Army Maimalari cantonment Maiduguri has sentenced one Corporal Aliyu Yakubu to five years imprisonment for defiling and assaulting 13-year-old girl, Inna Fatima Modu of Gomari ward of Bama, town in Bama local government area of Borno state.
Corporal Yakubu who had spent 11 years in the Nigerian Army was also dismissed from service after being arraigned before the 7 Division NA General Court Martial on 13 July, 2020 on two count charge of defilement and assault.
The accused, Corporal Aliyu Yakubu was said to have in the early morning of July 1, 2018 seen the 13-year-old Inna Modu, coming from her sister’s house and dragged her to an uncompleted building near Bama prison yard where he beat her and forcefully had canal knowledge of her.
When the girl was shouting, Yakubu removed her veil (Hijab), covered her mouth, smashed her head to the wall and hit her with broken cement blocks until she became unconscious.
While delivering judgement at the Officers Mess, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri on Wednesday, President of the Court, Brig. Gen Arikpo Ekubi said “This General Court Martial hereby sentence you Corporal Aliyu Yakubu with service No. NA/2009/63/263 as follows: Count 1; 5 years’ imprisonment, Count 2 dismissal from service.”
“This sentence is subject to confirmation of higher military authority. This case is hereby closed.”
The defence counsel, Barrister Bavagnba Zanna asked the court to consider the 11 year service to the Army, his family background and as first offender to temper justice with mercy.
