M.K. Abdulkadir Esq: We appeal to this court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict. The convict has been in custody since 2018. He is remorseful and considering his age the defendant can be a useful member of the society. The convict is married and has 2 children. Umar Aliyu Esq: While we are not objecting to the allocutus, we urge this court to consider the rampancy of the offence while sentencing the convict. SENTENCE Court: By the provisions of Section 310 (3) of the ACJL of Sokoto State 2019, a trial court after conviction while sentencing is required to take into consideration all aggravating and mitigating evidence or information as a guide in deciding the nature and extent of the sentence to be imposed upon the convict. I have considered the allocutus made by the defence counsel on behalf of the convict as well as the response of the prosecuting counsel. Cognizance must however be taken of the provision of section 298 of the Penal Code Law of Sokoto State Cap. 104 Laws of Sokoto State 1996 in relation to the punishment provided for the offence of robbery which prescribed life imprisonment with or without fine in clear terms. It is trite law that where a statute prescribes a mandatory sentence in clear terms, a trial court has no discretion to do otherwise except the law provides otherwise. Because it is a duty imposed by law and the Page 11 of 12