A.B.U Don Bags Two Months Jail Term For Enticing Married Woman



The Chief Magistrate Court in Kiyawa Local Government Area of Jigawa State has sentenced a don, Professor Festus David Kolo of the Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria to two months imprisonment for knowingly enticing a married woman who was his student contrary to Section 389 of the penal code law.

Principal State Prosecution Counsel Mustapha Adamu, who read the first information report, said on May 21, one Muhammad Ghali of Takur Quarters Dutse “reported you, Prof. Festus David Kolo of ABU, Zaria, knowing fully well that Mrs Bushra Ghali Muhammed is his wife, and you have been making advances towards her, inciting her, calling her oftenly, sending her love text messages using your phone”.

The FIR also stated, “You, Prof. Kolo, was caught red handed by the police at Dan Musa Guest House Room 109 with Ghali’s wife after he reported the case to the police and after several warnings and pleas by the husband”, to which the accused pleaded guilty.

Kolo’s legal representatives, M.A. Gausu and R.A. Nwande told the court that their client is above 60 years and the bread winner of his family and therefore pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Senior Magistrate Muhammed Musa Kaugama noted that the convict was a first time offender but also ruled that, “this court hereby sentences the convict to two months imprisonment without option of fine” in order to serve as a deterrant against a similar act in the future

The new Penal Code that was introduced derived from the Sudan Penal Code (1899), itself derivative of the Indian Penal Code (1834), both of which had been enacted by the British for populations similar to Northern Nigeria’s in their proportions and mixtures of Muslims and non-Muslims and had found acceptance there among all groups.

The contents of the Penal Code were negotiated at length with Northern politicians and legal scholars of various schools, particularly the North’s leading ulama. Basically English in derivation, the resulting Code also incorporated various principles of Islamic law. For instance, seduction and enticement –mere torts in England – were made crimes under the Penal Code (§389), “insulting the modesty of any woman”.