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A college vice principal accused of having a carnal knowledge of his student has been denied bail by the court where he is standing trial.
Vice Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Tunga, Mr. Mohammed had his bail application rejected on Wednesday and ordered to be remanded in prison custody.
Mohammed according to news report was arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child, and impregnating a female student.
The Police Prosecutor, Mr Pius Asawa, alleged that one Sokombo Danjuma of Tunga-Minna reported the matter at the Child Rights Agency, before it was later transferred to the Police.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Asawa quoted the complainant as alleging that the Vice Principal unlawfully had sexual intercourse with his 16-year-old JSS 3 student, and made her pregnant.
He said that the offences contravened sections 18(2) and 25 (3) of the Child Rights Law of Niger State.
When the charges were read to the accused person, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor thereafter asked the court for adjournment to enable the police complete it’s investigation into the matter.
He also objected to bail for the accused, arguing that it may jeopardise police investigation.
The counsel to the accused person, A.I. Mustapha, however, moved an oral application for bail of his client on the grounds that the offenses were entitled to bail.
Mustapha also challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
In her ruling, Magistrate Fatima Auna rejected the bail plea, and asked the defense counsel to formally write a complain if he was not satisfied with the position of the court as regards bail for the accused.
The matter has been adjourned to April 26 for further mention.
