Court remands 72-year-old man for allegedly sodomising minor

Man, 46, docked over alleged assault in Osun
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kano State yesterday ordered that a 72-year-old man, Abdulsalam Abubakar, who allegedly sodomised a 12-year-old boy be remanded in a correctional centre, pending legal advice.

The police charged Abubakar, who resides in Jakara Quarters Kano, with an unnatural offence. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Mustapha Sa’ad-Datti, who did not take the plea of Abubakar, ordered the prosecutor to return the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Sa”ad-Datti adjourned the case until March 24 for mention. Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Asma’u Ado, told the court that the complainant, Shamsiya Haruna, of the same address reported the case at Jakara Police Division Kano, on February 20.

Ado said Abubakar lured the 12-year-old boy into his house and sodomised him. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 284 of the Penal Code.

MEANWHILE, the police in Osun State on Tuesday arraigned a 46-year-old man, Sowummo Olalekan, before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged assault.

Olalekan, who claimed to be a civil servant, is facing a charge of assault to which he also pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Insp Kayode Adeoye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on February 23, around 7:30p.m. at Alekunwodo area of Osogbo.

Adeoye said the defendant assaulted one Salami Muftiat by inflicting injuries on her head, using a bell for unjustified reasons. He said the offence contravened Section 355 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.11, Laws of Osun, 2002.

The defence counsel, Mr Olatunbosun Oladipupo, prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms. The magistrate, Mr A.K. Ajala, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

Ajala said that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction; provide evidence of tax payments and two passport-sized photographs, attached with an affidavit of means to the court. The case was adjourned until April 13 for hearing.