Hon Kabiru Musa of the Upper Area Court 1 has sentenced Kabiru Umar in Ganye Local Government Area Adamawa State to five years jail term for deserting his pregnant secondary school girlfriend.
The convict was earlier dragged before the court by the father of his pregnant girlfriend and the girl herself through their counsel, Abdulrahman Njidda Esq, alleging desertion after being impregnated by the suspect.
According to the substance of the complaint, the convict approached the father of the girl seeking his daughter’s hand in marriage unknown to the father that the convict had since put his daughter in a family way.
Although he earlier took the responsibility, he later deserted and failed to provide what is needed, hence the legal action.
On his appearance in court, the convict pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him.
The court convicted and sentenced the defendant to 5 years in prison custody or pay the sum of N200,000 as an option of fine.
The court ordered the convict to pay his pregnant girlfriend the sum of N73,000, medical bills, feeding and antenatal care, N100,000 for feeding and nutritional supplements, N200,000 legal fees incurred by the 1st complainant and father of the girl, Mohammed Njidda.
The court also ordered that the convict pay the sum of N20,000, to the 2nd complainant, his pregnant girlfriend, as maintenance for the pregnancy.
According to the court, the payment shall commence from the date of judgement and shall continue until the 2nd complainant delivers the child or until otherwise varied by a court of competent jurisdiction.
He declared that the convict shall continue to take full responsibility for the pregnancy and the medical needs of the 2nd complainant until delivery.
The judge held that the sentence is not intended to only punish the convict but also to remind members of the society that those who Impregnate girls will be held accountable under the law.
He said that the law protects the dignity, welfare and future of women and children, saying that the court will not hesitate to enforce that protection whenever called upon.