Supreme Court affirms conviction of Professor who sexually harassed pregnant woman

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A lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Festus Kolo, who sexually harassed a pregnant woman, Mrs. Bushira Isyaku, cannot have his sentence overturned on the basis of the jury instruction, the Supreme Court said on Friday.

Read also: 13 Auchi Poly lecturers sacked for sex-for-mark offences

In June 2013, a Chief Magistrate Court in Kiyawa Local Government Area of Jigawa State sentenced Professor Kolo of the Faculty of Education at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria to two months imprisonment for knowingly enticing a married woman, Mrs. Bushira who was a student in his department contrary to Section 389 of the penal code law.

Prof. Kolo had appealed the judge’s decision but in the judgement of the Appeal Court delivered on Sept. 17, 2013, his conviction and sentence were upheld.

On Friday after Prof. Kolo brought his appeal to the Supreme Court, the apex court upheld the lower courts’ judgement.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi said, “It is ironical and
intriguing that a Counsel for the appellant, who described the act of his client as condemnable, and detestable, could in another tone dismiss the same act simply as mere allegation.

“It was stated that the appellant had been warned severally by the husband of the woman both face to face and on phone to stay away from her.

“He had refused to heed until he was caught red handed with the woman in a hotel room.

“The appellant according to the evidence before the court had left his place and travelled for up to four hundred kilometres from Zaria to Dutse to pursue his illicit sexual act.’’

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