Kano, Nigeria – December 2024 — The four landmark convictions secured by Lift Afric Foundation’s Justice Shield program in November 2024 represent a major step forward in the
fight against sexual exploitation in Kano State. Beyond the courtroom victories, these cases
expose systemic protection gaps and reinforce the urgent need for stronger laws, expanded
survivor services, and coordinated institutional reforms.
The judgments — delivered on 12 November 2024 (three cases) and 27 November 2024 (one
case) — demonstrate that when survivors receive comprehensive legal support, justice becomes a real and attainable outcome. They also provide powerful evidence for policymakers, justice actors, and civil society on the reforms needed to prevent future cases, protect survivors, and strengthen accountability.
Why the Convictions Are a Turning Point for Kano
In a state where many GBV cases are withdrawn due to social pressure, stigma, intimidation, or informal settlements, successfully securing multiple convictions in a single month is significant.
These outcomes prove that:
- survivors can pursue justice when supported
- formal legal pathways can deliver results
- perpetrators face consequences when cases are properly documented
- institutions respond more effectively when civil society plays a bridging role
The cases serve as a blueprint for what is possible when legal systems function as intended.
A Gap That Must Be Closed: The Absence of the VAPP Act
Kano remains the only state in Nigeria that has not domesticated the Harmonized Violence
Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. This legal gap:
- limits available protections for survivors
- weakens penalties for certain forms of sexual and gender-based violence
- creates inconsistencies in prosecution
- complicates justice delivery
- exposes survivors to pressure from community actors
- leaves harmful practices unaddressed
While the recent convictions were secured using existing laws, the absence of a comprehensive legal framework continues to restrict justice outcomes.
Justice Shield uses these cases to reinforce the need for urgent domestication of the VAPP Act to ensure that survivors receive:
- uniform protection
- survivor-centered court processes
- expanded definitions of violence
- stronger penalties for offenders
- clearer reporting and referral mechanisms
The Convictions Highlight Persistent Gaps in Survivor Protection
Each case reveals recurring structural weaknesses across Kano’s justice and protection systems.
These include:
- Limited survivor shelters and safe spaces
Many survivors, especially children, lack places of safety during legal proceedings, increasing risk of retaliation or case withdrawal.
- Overstretched medical and forensic services
With only one Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Waraka SARC) in the entire state, survivors often wait long hours or cannot obtain timely medical evidence.
- Pressure to abandon cases
Survivors and their families frequently face:
- threats
- social pressure
- financial inducement
- community interference.
Justice Shield repeatedly intervenes to prevent forced withdrawals or harmful settlements
- Weak coordination between institutions
Delays between police, prosecutors, and courts contribute to adjournments, lost evidence, and inconsistent case handling.
- Limited community awareness of legal rights
Many survivors — particularly minors and young women — do not know what protections exist or how to access them.
These systemic weaknesses create conditions where perpetrators act with impunity and survivors lose hope.
The Convictions Strengthen the Case for Policy Reform
Using these cases as evidence, Lift Africa Foundation is intensifying its advocacy for:
- Immediate domestication and implementation of the VAPP Act
This is the most critical policy step needed to align Kano with national and global GBV
protection standards.
- Strengthening survivor services across all LGAs
Including additional SARCs, mobile legal aid clinics, and community-based referral hubs.
- Increased funding for justice and protection agencies
Legal aid, medical services, shelters, and case-management systems require predictable, sustained financing.
- Community-level accountability mechanisms
Traditional leaders, religious authorities, and youth structures must be part of the solution — not sources of case interference.
- Training for justice actors
Judges, prosecutors, police officers, and social workers need survivor-responsive training to reduce stigma and handle cases appropriately.
A Roadmap for Strengthening Justice in Kano
Justice Shield is using data from these cases to support ongoing advocacy with:
- the Ministry of Justice
- the Kano State House of Assembly
- NAPTIP
- the judiciary
- the police
- community gatekeepers
- women’s rights coalitions
- regional advocacy networks
The goal is to push for structural reforms that make justice accessible, predictable, and centred on survivor wellbeing.
Lift Africa Foundation’s Ongoing Commitment
Lift Africa Foundation remains steadfast in its work to:
- expand access to justice
- secure accountability for GBV
- protect survivors through legal and psychosocial support
- strengthen institutions through partnership and advocacy
- shift harmful norms that perpetuate silence and impunity
- push for a legal environment that fully protects women, children, and vulnerable groups
The four November 2024 convictions are not the end of the story. They are the beginning of a
deeper transformation toward a Kano where violence is not tolerated, survivors are protected,
and justice is within reach for all.