A Primary School teacher In Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State who was alledged to have sexually abused 13 pupils of his primary School has been remanded in Minna Federal Correctional facility on the order of a Minna Senior Magistrate Court 5, Hajiya Sa’adatu Gambo.
The teacher, Alhaji Usman Galadima was arraigned on multiple charges by the men of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department (SCID).
He was said to have sexually abused 13 pupils of the same primary school he teaches whose ages ranged between 8 to 10 years.
Usman Galadima who is an HIV positive patient was separately arraigned on 13 different charges which bothered on unlawful sexual intercourse with a child, voluntary causing grevious hurt, and intimidation.
The offences according to the first information report (FIR), which was made available in court contravene section 285 of the penal code and section 19(2), of the childs right law of Niger State 2010.
The charges which read in part: “That on the 30, August, 2021, one Musa Abdullahi the head master of the same school where you teach in Borgu, Local Government in Niger State reported at New Bussa Police station that some times in May, 2021, you Alhaji Usman Galadima aged 48 years lured 13 of the pupils of the primary school where you teaches.
“whose ages between 8 to 10 years , age into the office of the assistant head teacher of the same school and sepetately have sexually assaulted them at the same time held one of the pupils at her back and press her to your body where she shouted and you left her where she ran out of the class.
“Police detective swung into action and arrested you.” During police investigation all the victims identified you to have indecently and sexually abused them.”
When the whole charges were read to him by the presiding Magistrate Hajiya Sa’adatu Gambo , Alhaji Usman Galadima pleaded not guilty to the offences.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Aliyu Yakub told the court that investigation into the case is yet to be completed and requested the court to remand him in Minna custodian facility pending the completion of police investigation adding that “in view of the multiple charges against the accused person granting him bail at this initial stage, he will likely commit similar crime.”
The defence counsel to the accused person, Aliyu Shuaibu made an oral application for his bail on the ground that the accused is presumed innocent in accordance to section 36 of 1999 Constitution as amended.
He said that the accused is an HIV patient, that granting him bail will enable him get access to his medication adding that if granted bail he will produce a reasonable and reliable surety that would be present in court at any of the court proceedings.
While ruling on the oral application of the defence counsel, the presiding Senior Magistrate, Hajiya Sa’adatu Gambo over ruled the application and ordered for his remand in Minna custodial facility and adjourned the case to 20 October, 2021 for further hearing.
