By Deborah Nnamdi
The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka, has remanded a 65-year-old man, Joseph Nwankwo, who allegedly defiled an eight-year-old girl.
The defendant is facing a one-count charge of defilement.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Chinyere Okechukwu, the accused, committed the offense on Dec. 28, 2024, at Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra.
“The complainant, who is the mother of the eight-year-old girl, said her daughter complained of waist pain. She checked and discovered that her daughter’s vagina was swollen.
“After a medical examination and inquiry at the General Hospital Ekwulobia, a medical practitioner confirmed that the girl had been defiled.
“The eight-year-old, however, opened up and said that the defendant had been having sex with her,” she said.
Okechukwu said the offense contravened Section 130(2) (a) (b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022.
She prayed the court to remand the suspect to a Correctional facility.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs U.E. Onochie, ordered that the accused be remanded at the Awka Correctional facility pending advice by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions(DPP).
Onochie adjourned the case until March. 12, for a report of compliance.
