Court remands man, 34, for alleged rape of 12-year-old

An Enugu Magistrate Court, yesterday, remanded one Monday Okoye, 34, of Obuofia, in Awgu Local Government Area of the state in prison custody over alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The police in Enugu had arraigned Okoye before the court over alleged offence.

The prosecutor, Mr Peter Eze, told the court that the matter was reported to the state Criminal Investigation Department on August 11.

Eze said the rape victim was absent in the court because she was hospitalised following the injury she sustained from the rape.

The prosecutor called seven witnesses to testify in the matter.

The magistrate, Mr Frank Chukwu, asked the accused if he had a counsel and he said he had none.

Chukwu said that the case would be transferred to the high court because it bordered on rape, adding that such was outside the jurisdiction of a magistrate court.

He, however, added that the prosecuting witnesses would testify in the high court on the matter.

He warned that each witness would pay N50,000 if they failed to appear in the high court for the case.

The magistrate ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case indefinitely.