3 men remanded for robbing, raping 14-year-old girl

Three young men who allegedly raped 14-year old girl after robbing her of N2,600 were yesterday remanded in Abakaliki prison.

The suspects, Onyekaba Chinedu, 19 years, Akpa Ifeanyichukwu, 18 years and Chidera Okelekwe, 18 years were accused of involvement in armed robbery and rape.

The accused persons were said to have committed the offence at Jemeni Street, in Abakaliki Local Government Area, of the state, on February 19, 2020.

They were arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki on three count charges bothering on armed robbery, possession of unlawful weapons and unlawful sexual intercourse.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Mbam, told the court that the offence was punishable under sections 516A (a), 402 and 358 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The charge reads in part, “That you Onyekaba Chinedu ‘m’, Akpa Ifeanyichukwu ‘m’, Chidera Okelekwe ‘m’ and others now at large on the 19th day of February 2020, at Jemeni Street Abakaliki, in the Abakaliki Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: armed robbery and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516A (a) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Onyekaba Chinedu ‘m’, Akpa Ifeanyichukwu ‘m’, Chidera Okelekwe ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, place and in the aforesaid Magisterial District did armed yourselves with dangerous weapons and robbed one Esther Maduabuchi ‘f’ of her cash sum of Two Thousand Six Hundred Naira (N2,600.00) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 402 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Onyekaba Chinedu ‘m’, Akpa Ifeanyichukwu ‘m’, Chidera Okelekwe ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, place and aforementioned Magisterial District did had unlawful canal knowledge of one Esther Maduabuchi ‘f’ age 14 years, without her consent and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Nnenna Onuoha, said the matter was not within the jurisdiction of the court to entertain.

Onuoha directed that the accused persons be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, while their case file, should be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, for advice.