A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on Monday, ordered the remand of a 55-year-old man, Ibrahim Jallo, in a correctional centre for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl and preventing her baby from being born alive.

The defendant, a resident of Buma Ruwa village in Gwiwa Local Government area, is facing a two-count charge, bordering on rape and an act done to prevent child from being born alive.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Musa Fagam, had told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in 2020.

Mr. Fagam said that the defendant lured a 12-year-old girl into a nearby bush and had carnal knowledge of her, resulting in the victim getting pregnant.

He further told the court that the defendant, thereafter, gave the victim medicine which forced the unborn baby to come out dead.

Mr. Fagam said that the offences contravened Sections 282(e) and 235 of the Penal Code Law.

While the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge of rape, he, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of preventing the baby from being born alive.

The Magistrate, Batula Dauda, ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre and adjourned the case till February 25, for further mention. 

(NAN)