A 30-year old man, Emmanuel Ogbonna has been arrested for allegedly engaging a 10-year old Primary School pupil in sex inside an uncompleted building.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Nnorom Street, Abakaliki town in Ebonyi State, where they reside.
He has been remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre for allegedly having carnal knowledge of the victim under the Criminal Law of the State having been arraigned before the Abakaliki Magistrates Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment if he is found guilty.
The Police alleged that the defendant, Ogbonna, raped the minor, who is said to be a pupil of Ezza Road Primary School, Abakaliki, on February 1, 2023, after he lured the victim into an uncompleted building on her way from school.
He allegedly offered her three mangoes before he raped her. Blood was said to be coming out from her private part before she raised alarm, which attracted their neighbours including her parents.
The matter was reported to the Police and Ogbonna was arrested and charged before the Court.
Part of the charges read: “That you, Ogbonna Emmanuel, on the 1st day of February 2023 at Number 1, Nnorom Street, Abakaliki in Abakaliki Magisterial District, did have unlawful carnal knowledge of one girl (name withheld), aged 10 years old and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 218 of the criminal code cap 33 volume1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009″.
He pleaded not guilty.
His counsel, Solomon Eguji, applied for his bail in most liberal terms and assured that reliable persons would be made available to stand as sureties.
However, the Police prosecutor, Inspector Eze Chinagorom, opposed the oral bail application and asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice as the Magistrate’s Court lacks jurisdiction to grant bail on the matter.
The Presiding Magistrate, Lynda Ogodo, agreed that her Court lacked the jurisdiction to release the accused person on bail and ordered that Ogbonna be kept in the custody of the Abakaliki Correctional Centre pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice.
The Court also directed the prosecutor to forward the original case file, evidence and all other documents in the matter to the Department of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned till 28th February, 2023, for mention for the DPP’s report to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.