Man accused of impregnating 15-year-old goes on courtroom rampage

Mayhem erupted at a mobile court in Kachenga, Balaka, after a man accused of having sex with a girl under the age of 18 launched a violent attack on a police officer, forcing proceedings to grind to a halt.

Sheikh Muhammad Ahmadu turned violent almost as soon as he was brought into the dock, striking a police officer over the head with the very handcuffs still fastened to his own wrists.

The accused went on a rampage inside the courtroom, smashing chairs and destroying the public address system in scenes that left officials struggling to regain control.

It took around ten law enforcement officers to finally subdue Ahmadu, despite the fact he was already restrained with handcuffs on both his hands and his legs at the time of the outburst.

Ahmadu is accused of impregnating a 15-year-old girl, a charge that had brought him before the mobile court at the centre of Thursday’s disorder.

Following the disturbance, he has since been transferred to Balaka Police Station, where a fresh court arrangement will now need to be made to proceed with the case.

Ahmadu hails from Mtenga village, under Traditional Authority Mtumanji in Zomba District.