FROM MIJINYAWA BABA-UTHMAN, MINNA
The Minna Senior Magistrate Court Number 3 has ordered the remand of an Islamic teacher who inflicted deep injuries on a seven-year-old child in Correctional Custody.
Nura Suleiman was ordered to be remanded in the Correctional Custody on the order of the presiding Senior Magistrate, Hajiya Halima Yusuf, after he pleaded not guilty to the three-count charges brought against him.
Men of the Niger State Child Right Agency in Suleja received a tip-off and arrested the defendant, who is an Islamic teacher residing in Suleja. He used an electric cable to severely whip his Islamic pupil, seven-year-old Isah Muazu, resulting in injuries all over his body.
Due to the severity and degree of the injuries sustained from the whipping, he was rushed to the Suleja General Hospital for medical attention.
The same Islamic teacher, according to the Police Prosecutor Inspector Emna Bassa, had inflicted similar injuries on one of his Islamic pupils, Khalifa Mohammed, an eleven-year-old, sometime last year.
He was arraigned on three counts of causing hurt without provocation, cruelty to children, and ill-treatment of a child.
According to the Police First Information Report (FIR) marked MN/CR/21/2024, made available in court and obtained by this reporter, the three-count charges were punishable under sections 246, 238 (a) of the Penal Code Law, and Section 25 of the Niger State Child Right and Protection Law 2021 as amended.
When the charges were read to the defendant by the presiding Senior Magistrate, Hajiya Halima Yusuf, he pleaded not guilty, just as he had earlier during police investigation admitted committing the offense, attributing it to the act of the devil (Shaitan).
His defense counsel, Barrister Bawa Mijinyawa, made an oral application for his bail, which was objected to by the prosecutor, arguing that the case has national interest as the injuries sustained by the seven-year-old pupil went viral on social media platforms.
"Your Worship, I'm objecting to the bail application moved by the Counsel to the defendant at this early stage of this matter. Your Worship, this matter has taken to the internet and all over the social media platforms which attracted national interest. I'm vehemently objecting to the bail of the defendant at this early stage of this case because of the national interest the case has already developed," he told the court.
The Prosecutor then urged for the remand of the defendant in Correctional Custody for further mention in the case.
Granting the request of the Prosecutor, the presiding Senior Magistrate, Hajiya Halima Yusuf, then ordered for his remand and adjourned the case till the 19th of February 2024.
