Nigerian Bachelor Jailed for Seducing Married Woman

A stubborn fly, they say, enters the grave with the corpse. This dictum aptly captures the present fate of one Attahiru Umar Sade, a bachelor from Bauchi State who was sentenced to a total of 4 years imprisonment with hard labour on Monday. 

Following his refusal to heed persistent warnings from Mr. Suleiman Bello to stop wooing his wife, Munira Mohammed, the convict was dragged before a Chief Magistrate court sitting in Bauchi, capital of Bauchi State. Mr. Suleiman had told the court that sometime in July 2010 the convict started ‘disturbing’ his wife for a love relationship and she reported to matter to him.

He said he approached Attahiru (the convict) as a gentleman and warned him to desist from any kind of interaction with his wife and that...

he even moved his wife from their house located in Danjuma Goje axis to Federal Low Cost Housing, all in a bid to stop the 'nonsense'. But like a dog who’s prepared to die, the convict traced his wife’s mobile phone number and put calls to her. Mr. Suleiman further stated that the accused sent to his wife via text message a Zain Recharge Card worth N500 with these numbers: 6994686556722738. Left with no other option, he was advised by his lawyers to drag Attahiru to court, which he did. Attahiru was charged for Criminal Trespass and Enticing a Married Woman, contrary to section 342, 344 and 389 of the Penal Code laws and punishable under section 348, 355 and 389.

When the charges were read to him, Attahiru pleaded guilty and begged for leniency. But to serve as deterrent to others like him, Chief Magistrate Isa Mohammed sentenced him thus: Six months in prison or a fine of N5,000 – first count charge. One year in prison or a fine of N10,000 – second count charge. Two years in prison or a fine of N15,000 – third count charge. He was also ordered to pay the complainant (Mr. Suleiman) the sum of N50,000 as compensation or spend another six months in prison.

This brings his sentence to four years in prison or a fine of N80,000... It is not clear if Attahiru would be able to raise the amount in order to escape jail.