M.G. Gidan Madi Esq: The duty of the prosecution is to proof the case beyond reasonable doubt, the powers to consider any allocutus is always at the court discretion which the courts are enjoy to exercise judicially and judiciously, we just want to draw the attention of this Hon. Court to the provision of sections S (7) of violence Against Persons /Prohibition Law/ 2022, in which the word shall is use which follows a mandatory sentence we therefore urge this Hon. Court to consider the said section and act accordingly. SENTENCE Court: By the provisions of Section 310 (3) of the Sokoto State ACJL of Sokoto State 2019, after conviction while sentencing, a trial court is required to take into consideration all aggravating and mitigating evidence factors or information as a guide in deciding the nature and extent of the sentence to be passed on the convict. I have considered the allocutus made by the defence counsel and the grounds upon which they were made on behalf of the convict and also the response of the prosecuting counsel. Cognizance must however be taken to the provisions of SS 5 (7) of the Violence Against Person Prohibition Law 2022, in relation to the punishment provided for the offence of rape, which prescribed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Page 22 of 23