Judiciary
THE police on Thursday, dragged a 52-year-old driver, Chukwudi Nwayaka, before the Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka, over alleged defilement of a 14-year-old girl.
The defendant was brought before the Chief Magistrate, Mrs U.E. Onochie, on a one-count charge of defilement.
The prosecutor, Insp. Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the defendant, a native of Umuawulu community, in Awka South Local Government Area, committed the offences on April 10, in his community.
She alleged that the defendant lured the teenager into his house, and had unlawful canal knowledge of her.
The prosecutor alleged that the girl’s mother was searching for her daughter, when someone reportedly told her they had seen her daughter with the defendant.
She alleged that on getting to the defendant’s residence, the mother and some other persons found the girl in a compromising position with the defendant.
She said that the defendant was immediately arrested.
“After medical examination and enquiry at the Ntasi Sexual Assault Referral Centre at General Hospital Enugu-Ukwu, a medical practitioner confirmed that the girl had been defiled,” she said.
The offence contravenes the provisions of section 3(2) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Protection Law of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2017.
The prosecutor then prayed the court to remand the defendant at the Correctional centre as provided by section 130(2)(a)(b) of the Administration Criminal Justice Law 2022.
Meanwhile, the defendant told the court that he was drunk from a traditional marriage and had returned home in his drunken state.
He claimed he was unable to explain how the girl was found lying beside him on the floor of his room.
According to the defendant, he woke up when the girl’s mother and other persons burst into his room, and found the teenager in his wrapper, and him in shorts.
The Chief Magistrate ordered a remand of the defendant at the Awka Correctional Centre.
She adjourned the case until June 10, for hearing.(NAN)
F.O
Tags: Anambra driver