Five men on Tuesday appeared before a Senior Magistrates Court in Katsina, for allegedly impregnating a 13- year-old minor.

Those arraigned included Amadu Mairake, 60, Samaila Hamza, 30, Hassan Surajo, 40, Sani Abdullahi, 30, and Hassan Ila, 40.

The suspects, who reside at Borin-Dawa village in Malumfashi Local Government of Katsina State, were charged with a one-count charge of rape.

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), the accused persons committed the offence on September 2, 2015.

The FIR said that on September 2, 2015, at about 9.00 am, one Abdul-Malik Nuhu reported at Malumfashi Police station that his 13-year-old daughter had been impregnated by the five suspects.

It stated that the suspects had been having sexual intercourse with the minor without protection, which led to the pregnancy.

The FIR said that the accused persons had committed an offence contrary to section 283 of the penal code.

When the matter came up for hearing, the police prosecutor, Mr Hashimu Musa, told the court that the police were still investigating the matter.

The Judge, Hajiya Nafisah Bagiwa, declared that the court would not take the plea of the accused as it has no jurisdiction to do so.

Bagiwa said that the suspects were arraigned before the court for the purpose of cognizance only.

She ordered the police to continue with their investigation and directed that the case file be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for advice.

The case was adjourned to October 28, for continuation. (NAN)

*Photo shows Justice Scale.