A Sharia court in Kano has sentenced an Islamic cleric to one month in prison for engaging in indecent communication with a married woman. The Upper Sharia Court, located at Kofa Kudu, delivered the verdict against Abdulmalik Rabiu, a resident of Maraba in Nasarawa State.
Case Details
The case was initiated after the woman's husband filed a complaint with the police. Rabiu was subsequently arrested and arraigned before Judge Ibrahim Sarki Yola. During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by Nafi'u Kabir, presented evidence that the defendant had sent explicit messages, nude images, and videos to the married woman.
Guilty Plea and Mitigation
Rabiu pleaded guilty to the charges and admitted that the woman had informed him of her marital status. His defense counsel pleaded for leniency, highlighting that the defendant serves as an Islamic cleric in Abuja, teaching over 1,000 students.
Judgment
In delivering the judgment, the court noted that the conviction was based on the defendant's voluntary confession. While the offense carries a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment, 40 lashes, and a fine, the court reduced the sentence to one month imprisonment without the option of a fine, taking into account the plea for mitigation.
