A Minna Magistrate’s Court on Thursday ordered the remand in prison custody of a 40-year-old farmer, Umaru Musa, on allegations of witchcraft. The police arraigned Musa on a two-count charge of witchcraft and abduction for ritual purposes, contrary to section 273 and 216 of the penal code.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Danladi, alleged that one Hussaini Bawa of Tatiko village in Paikoro Local Government Area‎ reported the matter at the police station on March 16. Danladi said that Bawa had alleged that the accused abducted his 13-year-old son and took him to a forest in Paiko road with the intention of using his manhood for money ritual. He said that a team of police detectives arrested the accused with the victim in his custody.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecutor, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the police complete its investigation into the matter. He also objected to bail application of the accused person, arguing that the offences were not ordinarily attract bail.
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Presiding Magistrate‎ Aisha Bawa ruled that the accused person be remanded in prison and adjourned the case until April 20 for further mention.

(NAN)
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