By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri
A chief magistrate at Owerri magistrate’s court, Imo State, Obinna Njemanze, on Thursday ordered the remand of Amarachi Nwodo,39, David Ajuka, 22, Chima Uwandu, 43, and Osinachi Okoro, 29, in the facility of Owerri Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling a 15- year- old girl, ( name withheld).
The chief magistrate who had earlier declined jurisdiction based on constitutional powers to commence trail on the matter, refused the oral bail applications made by the counsels to the defendants, U. S Nnadozie and G. O Anyalebechi, respectively.
The prosecution Counsel, B. C Iwu, who objected the bail applications, said that the victim was suffering from a life threatening disease because of the defilement and that the defendants do not reside within the jurisdiction of the Court.
Iwu asked the chief magistrate to consider the gravity of the crime committed by the defendants and deny them bail.
He said that the defendants might abscond If granted bail, thereby obstructing the will of justice.
In his ruling, the jurist denied the defendants bail and ordered that they be remanded in Owerri Correctional Centre.
He ordered that the case file be transferred to the state Director of Public Prosecutions for the possible prosecution of the defendants.
The chief magistrate had struck out counts five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten before ordering the remand of the defendants in prison custody till August 17.
The state secretary of The International Federation of Women Lawyers, C. O Iwunna who announced appearance also opposed the bail applications moved by the counsels to the defendants.
Their counts read “that you, Amarachi Nwodo ‘m’ on the 8” day of November, 2022 at Amaraku, triable in the Owerri Magisterial District, did rape one Chiamaka Okehe ‘f age 15 years, .with her consent obtain by force, threat, intimidation and fear of harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap. “C38” Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
“That you, David Ajuka ‘m’ on the 10th day of January, 2023 at Amaraku, triable in the Owerri Magisterial District, did rape one Chiamaka Okehe ‘f age 15 years, with her consent obtain by force, threat, intimidation and fear of harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap. “C38” Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
“That you, Chima Uwandu ‘m’ on the 1Oth day of March, 2023 at Amaraku, triable in the Owerri Magisterial District, did rape one Chiamaka Okehe ‘ age 15 years, with her consent obtain by force, threat, intimidation and fear of harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap. “C38” Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
“That you, Osinachi Okoro ‘m’ on the 21 day of March, 2023 at Amaraku, triable in the Owerri Magisterial District, did rape one Chiamaka Okehe f age 15 years, with her consent obtain by force, threat, intimidation and fear of harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap. “C38” Laws of the Federatin of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
“That you, Amarachi Nwodo ‘mn’ on the 8th day of November, 2023 at Amaraku, triable in the Owerri Magisterial District, did have unlawful carnal knowledge of one Chiamaka Okehe f age 15 years and thereby committed punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Code Cap. “C38” Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
“That you, Amarachi Nwodo m’, David Ajuka ‘m’, Chima Uwandu m’ and Osinachi Okoro ‘m’ between the month of November 2022 and March, 2023 at Amaraku, triable in the Owerri Magisterial District, did unlawfully and indecently assaulted one Chiamaka Okehe f aged 15yrs and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 360 of the Criminal code, Cap. “C38, Laws of the Federal of Nigeria, 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
“That you, Amarachi Nwodo ‘m’, David Ajuka ‘m’, Chima Uwandu ‘m’ and Osinachi Okoro ‘m’ between the month of November 2022 and March, 2023 at Amaraku, triable in the Owerri Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: Grievous Assault and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap “C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
COUNT VIIT: That you, Amarachi Nwodo ‘m’, David Ajuka ‘m’, Chima Uwandu m’ and Osinachi Okoro, on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Chiamaka Okehe ‘f by continuously having sex with her, which caused her harm in her vagina and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code cap “C38” Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 applicable in Imo State. Nwodo ‘m’, David Aiuka ‘m’, Chima Uwandu
“March, 2023 at Amaraku, triable in the Owerri Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves tO Commit a misdemeanor to wit: threatening violence and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 517 of the criminal Code, Cap. “C38”, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
“That you, That you, Amarachi Nwodo ‘m’, David Ajuka ‘m’, Chima Uwandu ‘m’ and Osinachi Okoro ‘m’, on the Same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, by threatening one Chiamaka Okehe ‘f not to disclose to any One that you have been having unlawful carnal knowledge of her or else you will kill her and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 86(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. “C38″, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
Our correspondent saw the victim who was in court with her parents and relations ruining with pains and crying profusely.
