Two arraigned for alleged gang-rape of 13-year-old girl lured with chicken

The police have arraigned two men before a senior magistrate’s court in Minna for allegedly gang-raping a 13-year-old girl.

The defendants, Awal Bala, 40, and Danjuma Ibrahim, 43, popularly known as DJ, face a two-count charge of receiving stolen property and unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants, who reside at the same address, lured the teenager into their residence with a stolen chicken before allegedly having sexual intercourse with her several times.

Prosecuting counsel, Zubairu Wuna, told the court that police investigations established that the two men allegedly used the stolen chicken to entice the girl into their house, where the alleged sexual assault took place.

According to the prosecution, the offences are punishable under Section 316 of the Niger State Penal Code Law 2025 and Section 26(2) of the Niger State Child Rights and Protection Law 2021, as amended.

When the charges were read to them before Senior Magistrate Ummi Imam, both defendants pleaded not guilty.

Defence counsel, Jerry Ekeh, subsequently made an oral application for their bail, arguing that his clients were presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.

The prosecution, however, opposed the application, arguing that one of the offences was capital in nature.

In her ruling, the magistrate, Mrs Imam, refused the bail application, stressing that the grant of bail remained at the discretion of the court.

“In view of the capital nature of one of the charges against the defendants, the bail application is hereby refused,” the magistrate ruled.

The court consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in correctional custody and adjourned the case until 19 August for definite hearing.

(Premium times)