The police, yesterday arraigned a 35-year-old driver, Ibrahim Akin, before a Gwagwalada Upper Area Court, for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl. Akin was arraigned on a one-count charge of gross indecency.
The Police prosecutor, Martha Paul told the court that on December 23, 2012, the accused assaulted a five-year-old-girl by putting his finger into her private part. She said the offence, which contravened the provisions of Section 285 of the Penal Code, was reported by one Cajethan Ubughu of Angwan Dodo at the Gwagwalada police station. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty, while his counsel, Mr. Ayam Michael, prayed the court to grant him bail.
Ayam made an oral application for bail on the grounds that the charge before the court “remains an allegation, until the contrary is proven.”
“The accused is a father of a one- month-old baby and if he is sent to prison, it will affect the child in a way. We know that the offence is not ordinarily bailable but we beg the court to grant him bail. The surety to take him on bail, if granted, is present in court,” he submitted.
Ayam further assured that his client will not jump bail if granted and will keep to all the conditions of the court.
The prosecutor did not object to the bail application. Consequently, the presiding judge, Mr. Babangida Hassan, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety in like sum.
Hassan said the surety must reside within the FCT and must be a civil servant or own a landed property, adding that the surety’s passport photograph should be attached to the bail form while his address should also be made available to the prosecution counsel. He also ordered that if by close of work on Wednesday, the accused was unable to meet the bail conditions, he should be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter to February 20, 2013, for hearing.
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