A Karu Senior Magistrates’ court, Abuja, has ordered that a security guard, Elisha Haruna, standing trial for alleged rape, be remanded in prison until March 24, to enable the court to get an interpreter.
Haruna, 43, is arraigned for raping an 18-year old girl in his house at Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja.
Senior Magistrate Omolola Akindele remanded the accused to enable the court to find an interpreter for him to take his plea.
The prosecutor, Patrick Ogele, had arraigned Haruna on a one-count charge of gross indecency under Section 285 of the Penal code.
But when the magistrate asked him whether he understood the charge, the accused nodded and shook his head at the same time in a manner that suggested he didn’t.
Akindele repeated the question thrice, and each time the accused nodded and shook his head in confusion.
“The accused does not speak English or Hausa. In the interest of fair hearing, I have no option than to adjourn this case to enable the court to hire the services of an interpreter for the accused to take his plea,” she said.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Patrick Ogele, alleged that the accused lured the victim to his house where he raped her.
He said that the victim was currently on admission in hospital, receiving treatment for injuries she sustained in the incident.
The case, according to him, was reported at the Durumi Police Station on February 4 by one Simon Jadi, elder brother to the victim. (NAN)
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