The Jigawa State High Court No. 3 has struck out rape charges against 50-year-old Aliyu Sani Jahun and two co-defendants in a case dating back to 2022. The suspects had been charged with the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl in Jahun Local Government Area.

According to a statement released by Abbas Rufa'i Wangara, Director of Publicity and Protocol for the State Judiciary, the case was dismissed under Section 392(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) after the prosecution repeatedly failed to present their case within the legally permitted timeframe.

The defendants had been charged under Section 3(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law No. 2, 2021 of Jigawa State, an offense punishable under Section 3(2) of the same law, which carries a potential life imprisonment sentence for convicted offenders.

In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Sambo Abubakar determined that the prosecution's inability to secure witness testimony and their general inaction constituted a failure to diligently pursue the case. The number of adjournments sought by the prosecution had exceeded the limits allowed by the ACJL for case presentation.

However, Justice Sambo noted that the prosecution retains the right to rearraign the defendants in the future if they become prepared to produce their witnesses. He emphasized that there is no statutory time limit for the arraignment and prosecution of offenders in such cases.

The dismissal highlights procedural challenges within Nigeria's criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving sexual violence allegations. While the VAPP Law provides strong penalties for sexual offenses, successful prosecutions often depend on timely presentation of evidence and witness testimony.

This case dismissal comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with issues of sexual violence and the effectiveness of its judicial response to such crimes, particularly those involving minors.