A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano on Friday ordered the remand of a 65-year-old man, Umar Yakubu, for allegedly defiling five minors. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Yakubu, who lives at Rijiyar Lemo Quarters Kano, was arraigned on a charge of defilement.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

According to the prosecutor, Mrs Maryam Jibrin, the defendant committed the offence in February and March at Rijiyar Lemo Quarters, Kano.

She alleged that Yakubu, on different occasions, deceived and lured five minors, aged 12 and 13, into an uncompleted building at Rijiyar Lemo Quarters and had sexual intercourse with them.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code.

The Chief Magistrate, Auwal Yusuf-Suleiman, ordered that the defendant be kept in a custodial centre and adjourned the case till April 28 for mention.

In another development, a 31-year-old Chinese, Tu Menglei, on Friday, appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for allegedly stealing N72.7m from his employer.

Menglei was charged with conspiracy and stealing.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, ASP Rita Momah, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between June 2021 and February 26, 2022, at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos State.

Momah said the defendant, employed as a manager with Perfect Diamond Industries Limited converted money realised from sale of furniture materials to his private use.

The alleged offences contravene sections 411 and 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10m with two sureties in like sum.

Adedayo ordered that one of the sureties must be a worker at the Chinese Embassy, while the other must be a Chinese citizen employed in Nigeria.

She further held that the defendant must deposit his passport.

The case was adjourned till April 26 for mention.

Source: The Punch