Teacher remanded after escaping from prison

An Abuja-based teacher, Igoche Adah, who was written off on alleged sexual abuse charges, was among inmates who escaped custody when gunmen attacked the Kuje Custodial Center last week.

Adah, who was charged with sexual molestation before Federal Capital Territory High Court Judge Akeem Fashola, Jabi, was remanded in custody on June 23.

FCT Police Commissioner Sunday Babaji had put the sacked teacher on trial for sexual abuse.

Adah was accused of repeatedly touching the breasts and other sensitive parts of a 14-year-old student at Destiny Academy in Lugbe, Abuja, where he taught.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, which is punishable under Section 32 of the Children's Rights Act.

The defendant was not present during Thursday's trial, fueling the assumption that he may have escaped from prison.

His defence attorney Terka Aondo confirmed that Adah escaped from custody during the attack.

However, he claimed that the accused was taken back into custody but that the guards were unable to bring him to justice due to logistical problems.

Earlier, Judge Fashola allowed the defendant to bail at N500,000 after 21 days of pre-trial detention.

In delivering the verdict, the judge noted that bail in a criminal case is entirely at the discretion of the court.

The judge specifically ruled that the sexual harassment charges against the fired teacher can be bailable.

In another ruling, Judge Fashola vacated the arrest warrant previously issued for the defendant while he refused to appear in court to plead his case.

The court found that following his arrest, indictment and pleading on June 23, the issuance of the warrant had been overtaken by events.

Judge Fashola then set the trial date for October 27, 2022.

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