AISHA ABUBAKAR
A 35-year old man, Tijani Bala, has been arrested and charged for engaging a 9-year old boy in anal sex inside his shop in Kaduna State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Kinkinau area of Kaduna, where the shop is located.
He has been charged before the Kaduna Chief Magistrate Court on a one-count charge of sodomy, which is an unnatural conduct and attracts several years of imprisonment
The Presiding Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, did not take his plea when he was arraigned. He ordered his remand in custody at the correctional centre and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and send a copy to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned till 30th April, 2024, for mention. The outcome of the DPP’s advice will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Chidi Leo, had told the Court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on 10th March, 2024, in his shop when the victim went to buy water before he was assaulted.
The prosecutor further stated that the suspect lured the victim into his inner shop and defiled him.
He said that the victim, who had pains after the assault, told his mother about it and the suspect was apprehended.
The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017″.