Moses Ofodeme
An Upper Sharia Court at Tsafe in Zamfara state has remanded one 56-year-old Bala Haruna, alias Oranji-gada; in Correctional custody, for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl.
The office of the Attorney General of the state dragged the accused to the court; after the girl’s mother, Hazida Salisu, initially reported the case, at the Tsafe Divisional Police Station.
The accused person, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Babangida Shehu told the court that; the offence contravened Section 131 of Zamfara Sharia law.
He said that the prosecution was ready to present evidence; against the accused on the next adjourned date.
The Judge, Yusuf Ruwan-dorawa adjoined the case to March 16, for further hearing.
In a bid to reduce related crimes, the Zamfara State Government announced its proposed bill in the state House of Assembly to stop school-age children from hawking during school hours in the state.
Gov. Bello Matawalle disclosed this in an interview with newsmen briefly after receiving an Award of Excellence for teachers’ welfare in Enugu on Wednesday.
The award was from Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) in Enugu.
Matawalle, who was represented by the Chairman, Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (ZSUBEB), Alhaji Abubakar Maradun; said that the government would not leave any child behind in its resolve to ensure that each child gets basic; compulsory and free education.
According to him, the bill will also seek to assist the government ensure that all school-age children are in school to get basic educational learning.
“We have already engaged various committees going to all nooks and crannies in the state; and it involves traditional rulers and various Quranic mallams and other stakeholders.
“Their mission is to sensitise parents and guardians in the state; to see that our compulsory schooling and modern education programme for all was achieved,” he said.