Man accused of raping, impregnating 14-year-old girl

The Magistrate Court III, sitting in Birnin Kebbi, on Wednesday, remanded a 19-year-old man in a correctional centre for allegedly impregnating a 14-year-old girl in Gwandu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The Magistrate, Atiku Abubakar, refused to listen to the defendant’s plea. He ordered that the defendant be remanded in Birnin Kebbi Correctional Center […]

The Magistrate Court III, sitting in Birnin Kebbi, on Wednesday, remanded a 19-year-old man in a correctional centre for allegedly impregnating a 14-year-old girl in Gwandu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The Magistrate, Atiku Abubakar, refused to listen to the defendant’s plea. He ordered that the defendant be remanded in Birnin Kebbi Correctional Center until July 16, pending advice from the State Ministry of Justice.

The prosecutor, Insp. Muhammad Kamba, told the court that four months ago, the defendant, Faruq Malami of Dalijan village in Gwandu LGA, allegedly assaulted and had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl (names withheld).

According to the prosecutor, he also, in the process, threatened to kill her if she attempted to disclose what happened to anybody, adding that the defendant also seized her handset. Kamba noted that the alleged rape had resulted in a four-month pregnancy.

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According to him, the offense is contrary to Sections 241, 259, 378, and 138 of the Penal Code of Kebbi State Criminal Law, as amended.

The prosecutor, however, informed the court that the magistrate lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter and sought an adjournment of the case till July 16.

This, according to him, is to enable the police complete the investigation while awaiting proper counseling from the Ministry of Justice.

Kamba prayed the court to remand the defendant at the correctional center until the adjourned date.

In his ruling, the magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional center and adjourned the case till July 16, pending advice from the Ministry of Justice. (NAN)