A 21-year old student, Ahmed Musa, on Thursday appeared before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Katsina for alleged rape of an eight-year-old girl.

Musa, according to Police First Information Report (FIR), committed the offence at about 2.30 p.m. on Feb. 5.

The report stated that one Sakina Muhammad of Kofar-yamma Quarters in Zango reported the matter to the police.

It stated that the accused lured the victim into their house and forced her to have sexual intercourse with him.

The report stated that the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Hashima Musa, urged the court to refuse the bail application of the accused because investigation was ongoing.

The Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Hafsat Bagiwa, said that the court would only take cognisance of the case, according to Section 158 (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

She said that the police would continue to investigate the matter and thereafter forward the case diary to the Ministry of Justice for advice.

Bagiwa ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till March 19.