Defilement case strikes out over delays in Jigawa State
A High Court in Jigawa State has struck out a rape case involving 50-year-old Aliyu Jahun and two others due to repeated delays by the prosecution.
Presiding over the case on Monday, Justice Mohammed Abubakar said the prosecution failed to present witnesses after multiple adjournments, violating the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
The defendants were accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in Jahun town and charged under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, which carries a life sentence.
Justice Abubakar ruled that the case was not diligently prosecuted and could be refiled once the prosecution is ready.
Prosecution may rearraign the defendants whenever they're ready to produce their witnesses," he said.
The case, which started in 2022, has drawn public attention and anger.
Reacting to the ruling, the Director of Publicity and Protocol, Jigawa State Judiciary, Abbas Wangara, said the court followed due process.
This reflects the judiciary's commitment to upholding the law and ensuring justice is served," he said.
He added that the judiciary remains focused on the timely and efficient prosecution of all cases.