Jigawa State High Court of Justice No. 4 has struck out a rape and incest case involving one Ibrahim Alfa of Garado village in Jahun Local Government Area and two others.
The defendants were charged under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law for allegedly sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl, who is the biological daughter of the first accused.
In a statement by the Director of Publicity and Protocol of the State Judiciary, the charges were filed under Section 3(1) and are punishable under Sections 3(4) and 5(2) of the VAPP Law No. 2 of Jigawa State, 2021.
However, for nearly three years, the prosecution failed to present the accused before the court, leading to significant delays in the trial process.
Due to this persistent absence and lack of diligent prosecution, the presiding judge ruled to strike out the case, citing that the court cannot indefinitely handle matters where the prosecution demonstrates no commitment to seeking justice.
The Statement notes that the decision has sparked concern among legal observers and human rights advocates, who warn that such procedural failures undermine public trust in the justice system, particularly in sensitive cases involving minors and sexual violence.
Stakeholders are calling for stronger coordination between law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, urging authorities to prevent future cases from being dismissed on technical grounds and to uphold justice for vulnerable victims.
Usman MZ
