Sodomy suspect remanded in correctional facility in Minna

A Minna Chief Magistrate Court No 2 sitting along David Mark road, Tunga has remanded a sodomy suspect in correctional facility in Minna for more witnesses to testify.

The 39 year old Murtala Ibrahim has been standing trial since 2021 on 4-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child, sexual abuse and exploitation, criminal intimidation and unnatural offences.

According to the first information (FIR), made available in court and obtained by our reporter in Minna Friday, the 4-count charge contravened sections 19 (2) of the Niger State Child right law 2010 and 397 (5) and 284 (1), of the penal code law respectively.

The police prosecutor, Ahmed Saidu ASP had told the Court that on the 28th of July, 2021, a 13 year old boy (name witheld), of Angwan Biri area of Bosso Minna in Niger State reported to the Bosso Divisional Police Command that on the same date, “You Murtala Ibrahim of ungwan Biri area called him for an errand.

“And You locked your door and threatened him with a knife and forcefully had canal knowledge of him through his anus. During Investigation, police detectives swung into action and effected your arrest.

“During further investigation, the victim identified you Murtala Ibrahim which you are thereby suspected to have committed the above offences”

The case which was re-assigned to the Chief Magistrate court No 2 by the women and child unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department (SCIID of the Niger State Police command for commencement of trial was mentioned to him by the presiding chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Hassan Umar on Friday.

When the 4-count charge were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty just as the victim gave the clear picture of how the defendant lured him in to his room to bring a plate to make purchase for him a local delicacy (Masa) “Only for him to come behind and forced him in his room and locked his door, threatened to kill him with knife if I did not pull down my trouser to have sexual intercourse with me through my anus”.

Hajiya Fati Hassan after listened to the gory testimony of the victim, she directed the police prosecutor to come with the whole witnesses to court in the next adjourned date for speedy completion of the trial “because of the years the defendant has been in correctional facility. The case has been long in the Court and the defendant has been in detention for the past one year and some months.

“Please make sure you come with all the witnesses in the next adjourned date for accelerated trial” she told the Prosecutor.

She then adjourned the case to November 9, 2022 for continuation of the case while she ordered for further remand of the defendant in Minna correctional facility.