A 37-year-old man, Sunny Onuegbu, has been remanded by a Magistrate Court in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl at knifepoint.
It was gathered that Onuegbu had used a jackknife to threaten the teenage girl before raping her at Omuigwe community in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area, on May, 31, before he was arrested by the police.
The accused, who was charged to court by the Police, faced a one-count-charge, bordering on rape, which contravened Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 1999 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria.
The charge reads,
“That you Sunny Onuegbu, male on May 31, 2020 at Omuigwe by Pipe Line, Aluu, at the Isiokpo Magisterial District, did use a jackknife to threaten one Prayer Igwe (female), and Subsequently had her carnal knowledge of her without consent and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 1999 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria.”
The Presiding Magistrate, R. N. Ibanibo, however, ordered that the accused be remanded in a Police cell, instead of the Nigerian Correctional Service facility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Magistrate, declined jurisdiction over the matter and transferred the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution for legal advice and adjourned the matter to July 27, 2020 for mention.
