By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna
A thirty seven year convict, Nuhu Musa who completed his one month jail term on Tuesday, (April 4th) may return to Prison to serve graver penalty for rape, abduction and murder.
Niger State Government said it was not satisfied with the mild punishment meted out to the offender and it has therefore called for the re-arraignment of the ex convict who breathed out of Kontagora Prison only last week Tuesday having completed his one month jail term.
Nuhu Musa was charged before a Magistrates’ Court in Kontagora last March having been found culpable of raping a nine year old boy.
The Court passed a mild sentence on him on two counts charges. On each of the charges, Musa got away with a mild one month jail term and consequently ended up with a month’s jail term as the two counts charges ran concurrently.
But no sooner had the ex convict breathed out of the Prison than the matter was unearthed by aggrieved youths and a civil society organization who raised eyebrow over the release and mild sentence.
But before the matter got out of hand, the state government said it was dissatisfied with the punishment and it therefore ordered the case to be reopened promptly.
Acting on the instruction, the Police in the state said the ex convict would be charged for three count offences of kidnap, rape and murder of the small boy.
The incident occurred in Kontagora in Niger state earlier this year.
Musa got a month’s jail term with an option of fine of N30,000.
He opted for the mild prison term and came out on Tuesday, 4th of April as a free man to the chagrin of the parents of the deceased boy, the community and civil society group.
But his release sparked off outrage and indignation amongst the locals. It soon became a matter for the state to wade in quickly.
But the Police Public Relations Officer for the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Police, Bala Elkanah said the case is to reopened.
Bala, a Deputy Supritendent of Police said further investigations on the matter is to be carried out by the Police on the orders of the state government.
The Police image maker in the state said Musa’s sentence was not commensurate with the gravity of his offence.
The nine year old boy was first abducted by Musa, raped and injured the boy in the process.
The young boy was later admitted to hospital. He was subsequently operated upon but died a day later from the injuries he sustained.
