A magistrates’ court in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, on Wednesday, April 24, ordered the remand of a 32-year-old man, Tony Chigoke, for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) charged Chigoke with rape contrary to Section 259 of the Kaduna State Penal Code. NSCDC’s prosecutor, Marcus Audu, told the court that the matter was reported at the corps’ office in Kafanchan by the Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre on April 19, 2024.

Audu said that the defendant on the same date approached the victim’s mother in Jaba LGA and requested to take her to Abuja to live with his sister to ease the mother’s burden, but that he took the girl to his house in Kafanchan and defiled her.

The Magistrate, Michael Bawa, who declined to take the defendant’s not guilty plea for lack of jurisdiction, directed the prosecutor to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (PP) for advice and adjourned the case to May 15.