Katsina man remanded in custody for hypnotising and having carnal knowledge of seven married women

KATSINA Senior Magistrates Court has remanded Sani Idris of Maska village in Funtua Local Government Area in custody after he was arraigned for allegedly hypnotising and having sexual intercourse with seven married women.

Mr Idris, 40, was said to have lied to his victims that their husbands were wizards and members of the occult. He is now facing charges of rape and attempt to commit an offence to wit causing miscarriage, which police said, are contrary to section 283 and 95 of the Penal Code.

Senior Magistrate Abdulkareem Umar remanded Idris in prison custody on Friday and adjourned the case till July 24, 2017 for mention. In its prosecuting statement, the police told the court that the husband of one of the victims, Muntari Samaila, lodged a complaint against Idris at the Funtua Central Police station.

Mr Samaila reportedly told the police on June, 11, 2017 that on the previous day, his wife, Maimunatu,19, had informed him that Mr Idris who claimed to be a soothsayer phoned her, asking her to come down to his house located also at Maska village. He added that on getting to the house, Mr Idris allegedly told Maimunatu that her husband was a wizard and that he would help her to tackle him.

While there, the accused was said to have thereafter prepared some concoction for Maimunatu to drink to abort her one month pregnancy after which recited some incantations. Mr Sumaila further told the police that the accused subsequently had sex with Maimunatu and warned her not to tell anyone.

Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to have committed the offence and further said he had done the same thing to other women. It is not clear if Mr Idris' other victims will be asked to testify against him in court.