A middle-aged man, Nwachukwu Ikechukwu yesterday denied paternity of a baby delivered by a 15-year-old girl during a hearing at Customary Court Dutse-Alhaji, Bwari.

While the proceeding was on, the baby was sleeping on his mother's lap, while the teenage mother stared at the alleged father.

Ikechukwu, who was placed inside the defense box, told Judges Omavuezi E.O. (Mrs), Zubairu A. Safiya (Mrs) and Eze U. Charles that he made love and did not have sex with the girl in July 2009.

When cross examined by the teenager's counsel, Barrister Esther Uzoma, on what he used for his love making, Ikechukwu said he used his hands to touch the upper part of the girl's body.

He told the court he had an erection but later changed his statement when his lawyer, Barrister Uwem U. Umoanwan informed the court that his client is not literate enough to know what erection means.

Ikechukwu also admitted buying three pants for the teenager and said he bought them for her when he noticed on one of her visits to his place that she wasn't wearing a pant.

The man told the court that he started a relationship with the girl in July 2009 and couldn't have been the father of the child since it was born in February this year.

According to him, it is not possible for him to be the child's father as the time she noticed the pregnancy till she delivered is six and a half months.

The plaintiff's lawyer, Esther Uzoma then asked the defendant to calculate from July 2009 to February 2010 and he confirmed it was eight months.

Barrister Uzoma then asked the defendant if he will submit himself for a paternity test and he accepted.

The defendant's counsel, Umoanwan however objected to the paternity test, arguing that the plaintiff never asked for such in court.

The court then asked both counsels to make an application and the plaintiff's counsel, Uzoma agreed to the paternity test, arguing that the test is the crux of the case as the plaintiff wants the defendant to take responsibility of the baby girl and look after her mother.

Barrister Umoanwan objected to the test, citing the case of Akinbunmi vs Akinbunmi and saying that what a plaintiff claims is what the court gives.

He told the court to discountenance the application of the plaintiff but Barrister Uzoma faulted the citation and said it was based on the matrimonial causes act and has nothing to do with the case.

Chairman of the court, Judge Omavuezi O then adjourned ruling on the application to today on whether or not the paternity test will be ordered.

At yesterday's hearing, Barrister Eze Ann Obiageli (Mrs) joined Barrister Uzoma for the plaintiff, while Obinna Amorha joined Barrister Umoanwan for the defense.