The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the life imprisonment sentence of Dr Abubakar Mustapha Danraka, a former Chief Pharmacist of the National Hospital Abuja and Senior Special Adviser (Technical) to the Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development.
Danraka was convicted by the Federal Capital Territory High Court for raping a minor.
According to reports, the appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole, set aside the judgment and conviction passed on the appellant on September 18, 2023, by Justice Akanbi -Yusuf of the FCT High Court.
The original conviction, delivered by Justice A. Akanbi-Yusuf, sentenced Dankara to life imprisonment under section 1 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act) of 2015.
He was arrested on 27 March, 2020, for defiling a 12-year-old boy.
It was reported that the appellate court revealed doubts and contradictions in the evidence presented by the prosecution witness, leading to Dankara’s acquittal.
The court emphasised the constitutional provision that any doubts in a criminal case should be resolved in favour of the accused.
“In line with the provision of Section 36(5) of the Constitution that where doubts arise in the case presented by the prosecution, then such doubts should be resolved in favour of the accused or criminal.
“I find merit in this appeal and allow it. The judgment of the lower court delivered on suit No FCT/HC/CR/014/2022 on September 18 2023, is hereby set aside. The conviction and sentence of the appellant are equally set aside, and the appellant is hereby discharged and acquitted”, Justice Oyewole stated.
