• Security guard jailed nine years for raping seven-year-old
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), yesterday, arraigned a 47-year-old man before the Federal High Court, Enugu, for allegedly defiling his 14-year-old maid.
The suspect, Chucks Orji, said to be residing at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of the state, was arraigned on a three-count charge of defiling a minor, harbouring same for purpose of sexual exploitation and engaging her as a domestic help against the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act of 2015.
Justice Ibrahim Buba, who presided over the matter, however, admitted the defendant’s application for bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.
He further demanded that the defendant sign an affidavit that he would not do anything to delay the trial. The matter was adjourned till August 21 for hearing.
Meanwhile, the victim, Sandra Chiamaka, who had been in NAPTIP’s custody, has been reunited with her family.
MEANWHILE, in Edo State, a magistrates’ court in Igarra, yesterday, sentenced a 31-year-old security guard, Sunday Akpeji, to nine-year imprisonment with hard labour for raping a seven-year-old girl. The police earlier charged Akpeji with defilement.
Magistrate Nosa Musoe held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubts with the evidence tendered in court.
“The prosecution’s evidence is overwhelming and I hereby find Akpeji guilty. I sentence the defendant to nine years in prison with hard labour without any option of fine,” the magistrate said.
The magistrate also ordered that the convict be taken to the Auchi Correctional Centre to serve his jail term.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Obeze Samuel, told the court that the convict committed the offence on the night of August 19, 2019, at Enwan/Ososo Road, Uffa Quarters, Igarra, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo.
Samuel said the convict, who is a security guard in the compound, raped the minor at night when she got out to ease herself. The offence, he said, is punishable Under Section 218 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48, Vol. 11, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 as applicable in Edo State.
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