By Sering Mass Jallow
Magistrate Sallah M’bai of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded a 19-year-old Nigerian national, John Henry, at Mile II Central Prison after he was charged with allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl.
Cadet Inspector Lamin Bangura, representing the Inspector General of Police (IGP), charged Henry with rape, contrary to Section 3(1)(a) and punishable under Section 4(1)(a)(ii) of the Sexual Offences Act 2013.
According to the particulars of the offence, Henry allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a 15-year-old girl, whose name has been withheld, on or about 1 August 2026 at Manjai, in the Kanifing Municipality.
Henry, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in English.
He disputed the age of the complainant, telling the court that she was not 15 but 17 years old.
The court subsequently heard testimony from the complainant, who testified in camera at the Kanifing court premises.
According to her testimony, she first met Henry through the social media platform TikTok, after which they exchanged contact details and began communicating.
She told the court that she knew Henry as a businessman who transported goods from a warehouse to a shop in Manjai.
The complainant alleged that Henry told her he had bought a pair of shoes which he had initially intended to give to his former girlfriend. Since, according to her, both of them were Nigerians, he offered the shoes to her instead.
She further testified that Henry told her he would be at the shop on Saturday and asked her to come and collect the shoes.
The complainant said she subsequently went to the shop as agreed.
Upon her arrival, she alleged that Henry gave her a drink and D1,200 in cash.
She told the court that when she indicated her intention to leave, Henry allegedly dragged her into a storage area inside the shop, tore her dress and sexually assaulted her.
“He dragged me to the store, he forcefully removed my clothes and had sex with me. He then asked me to go home,” she told the court.
Following the testimony, Magistrate M’bai said the court was constrained by time and could not proceed further with the matter on Monday.
She therefore adjourned the case and directed the prosecution to present its first witness at the next hearing.
The magistrate said the issue of bail would be considered at the next hearing, a position to which the prosecution did not object.
Henry was subsequently remanded at Mile II Central Prison pending the next hearing.
The case was adjourned to 17 August 2026 for further proceedings.
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