For allegedly raping three underaged students of Community Junior Secondary School, Ilorin, a 67-year-old herbalist, Saadu Alabi and one AbdulGaniyu Haruna, were on Tuesday arraigned before a Kwara State Magistrate Court.
Saadu and Haruna, 38-year-old friend of one of the victims’ fathers, were alleged to have had carnal knowledge of the girls on several occasions.
The duo were facing a case of having unlawful sexual intercourse with the children, contrary to Sections 31(2) of Child Right Law of Kwara State before the court.
Police First Information Report, PFIR, stated that the suspects were alleged to have several sexual intercourse with the minors who are all twelve years old, under the disguise of helping them to do invisible charm, known in Yoruba as ‘afeeri.’
According to the police report, the matter was reported by a member of the International Federal of Women Lawyer, FIDA, who claimed that Abdulganiyu, who lives in the same area with one of the victims, had carnal knowledge of her in his room on several occasions.
The report read, “On 20/07/2022, at about 1500hours, a legal practitioner of FIDA, Ilorin branch received a call from SUBEB Secretary, Ilorin, that there is a case of one elderly man having sexual intercourse with three school children all aged 12.
“The Police were later called and moved into the case and met the three minors (names witheld), who confessed that the suspects have sexual intercourse with them at different occasions.
“One of the victims (name witheld) said further that one Abdulganiyu, ‘m,’a close friend of her father has been having sexual intercourse with her in his room on several occasions; and Saadu Alabi, ‘m,’ aged 67 years of No. 8, Arobi compound, Okekere promised to do invisible charm, ‘afeeri,’ for them.”
When the case was mentioned in court, the two suspects’ plea could not be taken since the court lacks jurisdiction on the matter.
The prosecutor, Abdullahi Sanni, however, informed the court of the motion exparte attached to the police report, urging the magistrate to grant the prayers contained in the motion by ordering the suspects’ remand.
The trial magistrate, Mr O. A. Idiagbon, in his short ruling, ordered the suspects to be remanded at the Federal Correctional Custodial Centre, Ilorin, till August 4, 2022 for mentioning of the case.
Counsel to the suspects, Usman Omotosho, said that the court could only take the cognisance of the matter, but could not try it for lack of jurisdiction.
