Magistrate Court remands 20-year old for defiling 4-year old in Minna

A Minna Chief Magistrate court number three, sitting in the Judiciary headquarters has ordered the remand of a twenty years old Philip Jonathan for allegedly sexual molestation of a four year old girl.

The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Halima Balaraba Yusuf who gave the order, held that the court will give accelerated hearing to the case.

The operatives of the anti-gender and violence against child squad of the State Criminal investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) of the Niger State Police Command headed by SP Olubumi Duyilemi arraigned the defendant on one count charge wich bordered on unlawful sexual intercourse with a child law of Niger state.

According CAPITAL POST in court, the offence is punishable under section 26 (2) of the Niger State child to the Police first Information report (FIR), marked MN/CR/91/2024 obtained by 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 “you Philip Jonathan of the same address lured her four years old daughter to your 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 you Philip Jonathan and during Police Investigation the victim identified you as the person who had sexual intercourse with her inside your room”

When the charge was read to him by the presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Halima Balaraba Yusuf, 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 the 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.