KINGSLEY EBERE
A 70-year old Man, Mr. Anthony Mgbe, has landed in trouble in Enugu State for allegedly raping a 15-year old girl, she bled profusely and died in the process.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Mr. Mgbe, has been arrested and charged for murder and defilement of the victim.
The incident happened in Umuagu, Inyi, Oji-River Local Government Area of Enugu State, where the suspect hails from.
He has consequently been charged before the Magistrate Court sitting in Enugu, the State capital, on a two-count charge brought against him by the Police, which attracts life imprisonment.
The charge read: “That you the defendant on the same date, time and place did have unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor, an offence contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of Criminal Code, Cap. 30, Vol. II, Revised laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.
The second count read: “That you the defendant on the same time,place and date did unlawfully killed the victim by having unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor which caused her to bleed to death, an offence punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Law of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.”
This was disclosed by the Women Aid Collective, WACOL.
The organisation stated that considering the severity of the offence, the Magistrate Court denied the application for bail and referred the matter to the DPP for legal advice while the matter was adjourned till 22nd November, 2023.
According to WACOL, the Police took up the matter by concerned members of the community, who shared that “the defendant was in the habit of perpetrating violence against women/girls, but always managed to evade justice owing to the influence of his children, who silenced the victims””.
“In the light of this, the family of the deceased sought protection from WACOL and legal intervention to ensure that the perpetrator faced the full wrath of the law.”
“Following a petition sent by the WACOL legal team to the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mgbe was arrested and charged to Court.”