Alleged sexual assault: Court admits dismissed teacher to N500,000 bail

A  High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Jabi on Thursday,  admitted a dismissed teacher, Igoche Adah to N500,000 bail for alleged sexual assault.

Justice Akeem Fashola, granted Adah bail with two sureties in like sum, who must be Federal Government workers.

The judge also gave other bail conditions to include that one of two sureties must deposit his international passport with the registrar of the court for the duration of the trial.

In his ruling, Justice Fashola also remarked that granting of bail in a criminal matter was entirely at the discretion of the court to enable a defendant prepare his defence in the trial.

The judge specifically held that the sexual molestation charge against the dismissed teacher was a bailable offence and not a capital offence.

The judge also  vacated the arrest warrant issued against the defendant during the period he refused to appear in court to take his plea.

The court held that having being arrested, arraigned and his plea taken on June 23, the issue of bench warrant had been overtaken by events.

The judge adjourned the matter until Oct. 27 for trial to begin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the court had on June 23, ordered the remand of Adah  in a correctional centre pending ruling on his bail application.

The Commissioner of Police,  FCT Command had charged the dismissed teacher to court on one count bordering on sexual molestation.

Adah was slammed with the one-count charge to the effect that on April 15, 2021, he allegedly repeatedly indecently touched a 14-year-old pupil in Lugbe,  Abuja while the pupil (name withheld) was in his care.

Adah, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, punishable under Section 32 of the Child Rights Act. (NAN)