Corpun file 20061

The Tide, Port Harcourt, 22 February 2008

Youths receive 24 strokes for assault

Three young men, Sunday Seun, 19, Salisu Mohammed, 20 and Danladi Bawa, 25 received eight strokes of the cane each for assaulting one Fatima Aminu.

An Abuja Magistrate's Court ordered that the convicts were found guilty by an Abuja Chief Magistrate's court for beating Aminu when she went to buy drugs at zone 4 corner shop.

The convicts were arrested on February 11 following a report by Aminu at the Wuse Police Station.

They however pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.

Magistrate Bashir Al-kali in his judgement, ordered that the three persons be given eight strokes of cane each rather than jailing them.

"Considering their age and the number of days they had spent in police custody, eight strokes of the cane is enough for the offense they committed", Al-kali said.