One Rabiu Ibrahim has asked a Sharia Court in Zaria, Kaduna State to dismiss claims made by his neighbour’s 17-year-old daughter that he got her pregnant.
In his address to the court, Ibrahim’s Counsel, Abdulhalim Umar told the court to hold that the minor failed to provide evidence to prove her claim.
He, therefore, urged the court to discountenance her claims and disassociate him from the child delivered by the minor. He said the claims of the girl that he forced her to sleep with him was proved as her friend.
“Your honour, the defendant failed to prove where and when it happened neither did she provide witnesses to support this assertion as required by the Law,” he said.
However, on January 12, father of the minor, Hussain Abubakar, testified as Defence witness and said: said, “My daughter told me that Ibrahim impregnated her.
“I reported the matter at the Kasuwar Mata Police Division, Sabon Gari, and the police swung into action and detained him.
“His relations led by the plaintiff’s uncle, Danbala Waje and the ward head of Jushin Waje, Malam Sule approached me for an amicable settlement.
”I was given N15,000 to abort the pregnancy. I told them that my religion does not approve of abortion and I don’t engage in such,” he said.
This testimony was also challenged by the Plaintiff’s counsel adding that the relatives of the Plaintiff cannot make acceptance of liability on behalf of the Plaintiff.
After listening to the arguments, Alhaji Shittu Umar, the presiding judge fixed Aug. 30 for judgment.