Prosecution counsel’s absence stalls trial of trader charged with defilement
The absence of the prosecution counsel, Hafsat Ibrahim, on Tuesday stalled the trial of a trader, Mohammed Sani, charged with defilement.
The National Agency for Prohibition and Trafficking in Persons charged Mr Sani with two counts of defilement.
The defence counsel, Ibrahim Jibril, told the court that it was the fourth time the matter was adjourned at the instance of the prosecution.
Mr Jubril said, “In the interest of justice, we would be seeking a date.’’
Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya adjourned the matter until June 24 and ordered for the prosecution counsel to be notified of the new date.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant defiled a 13-year-old girl at Apo resettlement, Abuja, sometime in 2022.
She added that the defendant made the girl engage in the sexual act to the detriment of her physical and psychological wellbeing.
The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of sections 1(1), (2) and 5(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
(NAN)
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