Court Remands Two For Gang-R@ping 12-Year-Old

Hajiya Ummulkhatum Mohammed, the Presiding Chief Magistrate of the Minna Magistrate Court, has ruled that two middle-aged men be remanded in a correctional facility for allegedly gang-raping a 12-year-old girl in Niger State.

The defendants, Umaru Hussaini and Zulkifilu Musa live in Kagara’s Sabon Gari neighbourhood, which serves as the headquarters for Niger State’s Rafi Local Government.

Inspector Bello Mohammed Beji, the Police Prosecutor, stated that the defendants enticed the 12-year-old into Musa’s room, where they each had carnal knowledge of her.

Beji informed the court that the two defendants were charged with illicit sexual intercourse with a child.

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He said the offence violated sections 79 of the Penal Code Law and section 26(2) of the Niger State Child Rights Act 2021.

Beji explained that Lawal Haruna of the Sabon Gari neighbourhood of the same location claimed to Kagara Divisional Police headquarters that the two suspected rapists enticed his 12-year-old daughter into the room and gang-raped her.

According to him, as soon as the police received the report, investigators jumped into action, leading to the arrest of the two suspects.

“During police interrogation, each of them confessed to having committed the offence,” the prosecutor disclosed.

However, when the accusations were read aloud by the presiding chief magistrate, Hajiya Hussaini, one of them, Umaru Hussaini, admitted guilt.

However, Zulkifilu Musa pled not guilty to the offence.

The prosecutor requested that the case be adjourned so that the police may bring witnesses before proceeding with a full trial.

The presiding magistrate ruled that the defendants be held in correctional custody and postponed the hearing until February 14, 2024.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli