by Adeola Balogun

29-year-old  Stanley Bestman, appeared before an Abuja Magistrate Court today on a charge of attempted rape.

The accused allegedly attempted to rape  a nursing mother, Naomi Haruna, on her farm with her child strapped to her back.

The suspect was charged with criminal assault and criminal force with intent to rape Haruna at Daki-Biyu village, Jabi, Abuja on Aug. 30. The police prosecutor, Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, reportedly said that that Haruna was working on her farm when the accused suddenly emerged from the bush.

He said that the accused then grabbed her and pushed her to the ground with the intention to rape her. Emmanuel further alleged that the accused ran way when the victim raised an alarm which attracted the attention of people who came to the scene of the alleged crime.

The prosecutor said the accused was subsequently trailed and apprehended by neighbouring farmers who took him to the Life Camp Police Station.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when Magistrate Idaiyat Akanni took his plea. The magistrate subsequently admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two reliable sureties. The case was  adjourned to Sept. 20 for hearing.