A 25-year-old bricklayer, Sarafa Sule of No 6 Ita-Amodu area of Ilorin, was yesterday remanded in prison custody for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl.
The accused, who was arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrates’ court on a one-count charge of rape, allegedly committed the offence on Jan. 4.
The charge sheet stated that the accused was arrested by the police following a complaint by one Mrs Latifat Tijani, also of Ita-Amodu area, that her daughter (name withheld) was raped.???
“My daughter came to my shop crying and complained that the accused sent her to buy tom-tom for him and forced her into his room and had carnal knowledge of her,’’ Tijani said.
Police preliminary investigation revealed that the accused sexually assaulted the victim.
However, counsel to the accused, Mr Ibrahim Ahmed, urged the court to grant
his client bail, and said that denying him bail would amount to pre-trial punishment.
He argued that the law presumed the accused innocent until proven otherwise.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Chris Koragee, objected to the bail application on grounds that investigation into the case was ongoing.