35-year-old man arraigned for defiling a 5-year-old girl in Abuja

The police on Wednesday arraigned a 35-year-old driver, Ibrahim Akin, before a Gwagwalada Upper Area Court in the FCT for allegedly defiling a five-year-old. The police arraigned Akin, a resident of Zuba, Abuja, on a one-count charge of gross indecency.

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, and his counsel, Ayam Michael, prayed the court to grant him bail. Michael 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 bail-able, but we beg the court to grant him bail. The surety to take him on bail, if granted, is present in court," he said.

The Presiding Judge, Babanginda Hassan, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety in like sum.