By Emmanuel Onyedika
The Anambra State Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka has remanded a businessman and three others alleged to have raped and impregnated a mentally challenged girl.
The defendants namely Christopher Nnamah, 54, Ndubuisi Ikechelu, 40, Chinecherem Emmanuel, 20, and Kennedy Udogu, 34, pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape during their arraignment on Thursday.
Chief Magistrate Mrs. U.E. Onochie ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until August 5 for hearing.
Earlier, Prosecutor Insp. Chinyere Okechukwu told the court that the defendants at different times committed the offence at Umuriam village, Nawfia, in Njikoka Local Government Area. She explained that the men allegedly lured and took advantage of the 18-year-old girl’s mental state to have carnal knowledge of her.
Her guardian discovered she was pregnant and reported the matter, after which the teenager identified the defendants as responsible for her condition.
Okechukwu said the offence contravenes Section 3(2) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Protection Law of Anambra State, 2017. She prayed the court to remand the suspects in line with Section 130 (2)(a)(b) of the Administration Criminal Justice Law, 2022.