Court remands policeman charged with rape of 9-year-old girl

An Egor Chief Magistrates' Court in Benin-City on Wednesday remanded in prison custody a dismissed policeman, Umar Babatunde, 37, alleged to have had an unlawful carnal knowledge of a nine-year-old girl.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Igho Braimoh, ordered the remand of Babatunde and added that his application for bail would be considered in the course of the hearing.

She, subsequently, adjourned the case till May 11 for hearing.

Earlier, a state counsel, Mrs O.R. Ewemade, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on Nov. 2, 2015, at No. 12, Omokaro St., off Siluko Road in Benin.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In her testimony, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Sgt. Vivian Akhionbare, said that when the case was brought before her, Babatunde had already been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force over the matter.