An Upper Sharia Court sitting at Kofa Kudu in Kano has
sentenced an Islamic cleric, Abdulmalik Rabiu, to one month in prison for
engaging in indecent communication with a married woman.
The case arose after the woman’s husband reportedly
filed a complaint with the police, leading to the arrest and arraignment of the
defendant, who resides in Maraba, Nasarawa State.
The matter was heard before Judge Ibrahim Sarki Yola.
During proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Nafi’u
Kabir, told the court that the cleric sent explicit messages, nude photographs,
and videos to the married woman despite allegedly knowing her marital status.
Rabiu pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted in
court that the woman had informed him she was married.
In his plea for leniency, defence counsel urged the
court to temper justice with mercy, explaining that the defendant is an Islamic
teacher based in Abuja who reportedly teaches more than 1,000 students.
Delivering judgment, the court ruled that the
conviction was based on the defendant’s voluntary confession.
Although the offence carries a punishment of up to one
year imprisonment, 40 lashes, and a fine under the applicable law, the court
reduced the sentence to one month imprisonment without the option of a fine
after considering the mitigating plea presented by the defence.
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