The FCT High Court, Maitama, has fixed March 27, for the adoption of addresses on charges of alleged rape and attempted abortion on a minor, brought against a clergyman, Apostle Basil Princewill.
Judge Hussein Baba-Yusuf, fixed the date after hearing the testimony of a re-called witness, Dr Felix Ogunbade.
Princewill was dragged to court by the Police on June 4, 2012, on a three-count charge bordering on rape, impersonation and attempt to cause abortion.
Earlier, the witness who had initially testified told the court that the available medical test on the girl showed that the defendant allegedly gave the victim a drug to force an abortion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Baba-Yusuf had granted leave to the prosecution to amend the charges which hinged on Ogunbade’s re-call to re-testify.
Ogunbade, a medical doctor with Fountainhead Medical Centre, Mararaba, told the court that medical test carried on the girl revealed that the drug given to her by the defendant was an abortion drug.
Prosecuting Counsel, Simon Lough, had averred that Princewill allegedly forcefully had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl, between July 27, 2011, and Dec.31, 2011.
He alleged that the crime took place at Mountain Mover Ministry International and the defendant’s house at Nyanya, Abuja.
The prosecuting counsel also alleged that the illegal acts which happened without the consent of the girl, resulted to pregnancy.
He further alleged that the defendant gave her drugs to take with a view to aborting the pregnancy.
Mr Lough said the alleged offences were against Section 282 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 283 of the same law.
He further averred that on or about Jan. 23, 2012, the defendant falsely impersonated to be the father of the girl when he took her to a medical centre to procure abortion drug for her.
Lough said that the action violated Section 179 of the Penal Code.
The prosecuting counsel further averred that Princewill had in January 2012, attempted to cause miscarriage to the girl’s pregnancy, when he gave her drugs, meant for abortion.
NAN recalls that the prosecution had earlier closed its case on Dec. 9, 2016, after calling five witnesses to prove the allegations.
The defendant did open his defence on April 6, 2016, and close same on May 24, 2016, after testifying as his own sole witness.
