Naseer AL-SIRAJDEEN, Minna
Hajiya Halima Balaraba Yusuf, Chief Magistrate Court 3, sitting in Minna, Niger State, has ordered that a twenty years old Philip Jonathan be remanded in custody for alleged sexual molestation of a four year old girl.
The Presiding Chief Magistrate, also held that the Court will give accelerated hearing to the case.
Operatives of Anti-Gender and Violence Against Child Squad under the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Niger State Police Command headed by
SP Olubumi Duyilemi arraigned the defendant on a one count charge wich bordered on unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
According to the Police first Information report (FIR), marked MN/CR/91/2024 obtained in Court, the offence is punishable under section 26 (2) of the Niger State child Right and Protection law 2021 as amended.
The Police Prosecutor Asp Emmanuel Bassa told the Court that on 29th June, 2024,at about “4.30 pm, one Habibat Yakubu of Gwanzunu area of Suleja Local Government reported to the Police in A’ Divisional Command, that on the 28th June 2024, that ” Philip Jonathan of the same address lured her four years old daughter to his room and had sexual intercourse with her”
” As a result, she sustained injuries all over her private parts. Police detectives swung into action and arrested Philip Jonathan and during Police Investigation the victim identified the suspect as the person who had sexual intercourse with her inside his room”
When the charge was read to him by the Presiding Chief Magistrate, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Barrister Ochegene Victor, then applied for his bail on the ground that he was presumed innocent until the case in which he the (defendant), was charged is established.
The Prosecutor ASP Emmanuel Bassa objected to the bail of the defendant on the ground that the offense of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child under section 26(2) of the Niger Child Right and Protection law 2021 as amended is not bailable.
He then prayed the Court to remand the twenty years old defendant in Correctional Custody for the commencement of the accelerated hearing into the case.
While granting the prayers of the Prosecutor, Chief Magistrate Halima Balaraba Yusuf ordered for his remand and adjourned the case to 4th, September, 2024, for the commencement of the hearing.
