Edo court arraigns man for raping 14-year-old girl

A 33-year-old man was on Wednesday arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate’s Court in Benin for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

The prosecutor, ‎Mr. S. O. Omor, told the court that the incident occurred at 12, Ere Street, where both the suspect and the victim resided.

He explained that the accused had lured the victim, said to be a student of Imaguero College, into his apartment, where he had carnal knowledge of her.

The suspect was also said to have committed the act five times, in the disguise of sending the girl on errands, and warned her not to tell anyone.

Omor, however, disclosed that the victim opened up to her mother when she demanded an explanation for her sudden awkward movements.

The matter was later reported at the Human Trafficking, Women and Children’s Protection Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department.

The charge read, “That you Aimufua Nosakhare ‘m’ on September 14, 2015, at 12, Ere Street, off Ore-Oghene‎ Street, Benin City, in Oredo Magisterial District did rape one Esosa ‘f,’ aged 14, by having unlawful carnal knowledge of her without her consent and, thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48 Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976, as applicable in Edo State.”

‎But the accused pleaded not guilty.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. C. A. Nwoha‎, however, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to October 15 for hearing.