The Anambra State Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Offences Court sitting in Awka, on Thursday, remanded a businessman and three others over allegations that they raped and impregnated an 18-year-old mentally challenged girl.
The defendants, Christopher Nnamah, 54; Ndubuisi Ikechelu, 40; Chinecherem Emmanuel, 20; and Kennedy Udogu, 34, were arraigned before the court on a charge of rape.
They each pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Delivering the court’s ruling, Chief Magistrate U.E. Onochie ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre pending the hearing of the matter.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until August 5 for hearing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence at different times at Umuriam village, Nawfia, in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Okechukwu alleged that the defendants lured the 18-year-old girl and took advantage of her mental condition to have carnal knowledge of her.
According to the prosecutor, the matter was reported after the girl’s guardian discovered that she was pregnant.
She said that during questioning, the teenager allegedly identified the defendants as those responsible for her condition.
The prosecutor told the court that the alleged offence is punishable under Section 3(2) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Protection Law of Anambra State, 2017.
She also urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pursuant to Section 130(2)(a)(b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2022.
The court granted the prosecution’s request and ordered the remand of the four defendants.
The matter will continue on August 5.
(NAN)
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