Two persons have been arraigned before an
Egor Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping and assaulting a
12-year-old girl in Egor
Local Government Area of Edo State.
The defendants, Festus Owie, 20; and
Blessing Ebiminor, 21, were arraigned on a three-count charge of
defilement, rape and assault.
The prosecutor told the court the offence was committed on October 26, 2014.
He said the accused persons conspired at
about 5pm at 46, First Oromina Street, off Siluko Road, Benin, where
they not only assaulted the victim but also had sexual intercourse with
her against her will.
The prosecutor also noted that the
offences were in contravention of Sections 218 and 222 of the Criminal
Code Cap 48, Vol II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976,
applicable in the state.
The charge read, “That you, Festus Owie
(aka Ebo) on or about October, 2014, at about 1200 hours at No. 46,
First Oromina Street, off Siluko Road, Benin City, in the Egor
Magisterial District did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with one
Beauty (surname withheld) aged 12 years, by inserting your penis into
her vagina and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 218
of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State
of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo State.
It
added, “That you, Blessing Ebiminor, on or about October, 2014, at
about 1200 hours at No. 46, First Oromina Street, off Siluko road, Benin
City, in the Egor Magisterial district, did indecently assault one
Beauty (surname withheld) aged 12 years, against her consent and thereby
committed an offence punishable under Section 222 of the Criminal Code
Cap 48, Vol II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as
applicable in Edo State.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Counsel to the first accused person had
told the court that the complainant had been paid the sum of N100,000 to
withdraw the case.
But the presiding magistrate, Igho Braimoh, maintained that the case would be determined, due to the seriousness of the matter.
Braimoh, however, ordered a relative of
the first accused person to tender a statement at a police station after
she was accused by the counsel to the complainant, Mrs. Osasu Ewemade,
of threatening the victim.
The case was later adjourned to October 19 for cross examination.
Source: Punch Newspaper
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