Man, 75, arraigned for raping five-year-old in Ebonyi

A 75-year-old man, Joseph Oduma, of Amaechi Ezzamgbo in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has been arraigned before an Abakaliki magistrate’s court for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl.

The Magistrate, Olughu Nnachi, declined to grant the accused bail, ordering that he be remanded in the Abakaliki Federal Prisons, pending legal advice.

According to the charge, the offence is punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol. 1 Law of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

It was gathered that the accused and the victim were from the same village in the Ohaukwu area of the state, where he allegedly took advantage of her.

Counsel to the accused, Sunday Nnunu, urged the court to consider his client’s age and grant him bail, insisting that he had a reliable surety.

Ruling on the application, the magistrate said the accused could not be granted bail as the court lacked jurisdiction to try him.

He ordered that the case file be transferred to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The Investigating Police Officer said aside from the fact that the defendant admitted to being guilty in his confessional statement, the police had enough evidence to prosecute them.

Source;Punchngr