The Adamawa Ministry of Justice has successfully obtained a conviction in one of the four rape cases reported between January and August 10, according to Senior State Counsel Adamu Abubakar,wikkitimes report.
Abubakar, who also serves as the Police Liaison Officer overseeing the sexual offenses database in the state, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.
He revealed that the remaining three cases are currently progressing through the legal process.
Abubakar explained that the attorney-general’s office handles the receipt and prosecution of rape and defilement cases exclusively.
“We have received a few cases from the police since January. To date, we’ve received four cases, out of which one has resulted in a conviction,” he stated.
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He highlighted the significance of the newly established DNA Forensic Laboratory in Yola by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which is expected to greatly assist investigators and prosecutors in collecting and presenting evidence, particularly in sexual assault cases.
Abubakar encouraged the public to responsibly report any instances of sexual offenses to the police, and he also recommended reporting such cases to the Hope Centre, where victims can receive immediate first aid following an incident, especially in cases of rape.
“Previously, we encountered numerous cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), but the lack of forensic evidence led to some of these cases being lost. In many instances, the main challenge we faced was the absence of evidence and, in some cases, lack of cooperation from families,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa DNA Forensic Laboratory, which focuses on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases, has processed 16 samples for analysis between January and July 2023.
Laboratory Technician Usman Adamu shared this information during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Sunday.
He clarified that the analysis is conducted to gather evidence for the conviction of GBV perpetrators in court, particularly in cases of rape.
Out of the 16 samples, Adamu reported that 13 yielded negative results, one tested positive, and two are awaiting analysis.
Adamu emphasized that the laboratory has processed a total of 87 samples since its establishment in 2021, with the primary objective of expediting access to justice for GBV survivors.
He indicated that the samples were submitted for analysis by entities such as the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Civil Defence, and the HOPE Centre, ultimately aiding the prosecution process in courts.
It’s important to note that the laboratory does not accept samples from individuals directly.
The laboratory operates through a collaborative effort involving Modibbo Adama University, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA Nigeria), and the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative. Its purpose is to provide forensic results that can substantiate or refute rape cases based on scientific evidence rather than subjective assumptions.
