One Emmanuel Bassey and his wife, Esther has been sentenced to three years imprisonment by the Sokoto Magistrate Court with N275,000 fine for starving and confining their 12-year-old niece in an unused fridge for eight months.
The Chief Magistrate of Sokoto Magistrate Court, Shu’aibu Ahmad also granted their two children, Goodness Emmanuel and Happiness Emmanuel bail in the sum of N500,000 and one surety each in the like sum for being an accomplice.
Recall That TheNewsBeam reported that the Police command in Sokoto State rescued a 12-year-old girl, Joy Emmanuel, from eight months solitary confinement by her guardians, who denied her food throughout the period of her confinement at Sokoto Cinema area in Sokoto North Local Government Area. However, Joy was rescued by the Police on Thursday, April 13, 2021, after which her guardians were arrested and charged to Court.
It was also reported that the couple took the action because they claimed “she was mentally unstable” which was later proved to be false by the police.
Following the trial of the couple, the Chief Magistrate, Shu’aibu Ahmad on Wednesday, 14 July, 2021 fined the couple N25,000 or six months jail term for criminal conspiracy.
He also fined them N50,000 for wrongful confinement and in default they would spend 12 months in prison.
He affirmed that the couple were found guilty of cruelty to child and sentenced them to 12 months imprisonment with N100,000 fine each, and in default they would spend three years in prison. Noting that they would serve the sentences concurrently.
He however granted their two children, Goodness Emmanuel and Happiness Emmanuel bail in the sum of N500,000 and one surety each in the like sum.
