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Court Remands Rivers Varsity Worker For Abducting, Sexually Abusing 16-Year-Old Girl

February 16, 2021

The 45-year-old suspect was said to have organised some boys to abduct the victim at gunpoint from Aluu in the Ikwerre Local Government Area to Rumuakwunde in the Emohua LGA of the state, where he allegedly serially abused her.

A Chief Magistrate sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday, remanded a security worker with the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Mgbechi Wekwa, for sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl. 

The 45-year-old suspect was said to have organised some boys to abduct the victim at gunpoint from Aluu in the Ikwerre Local Government Area to Rumuakwunde in the Emohua LGA of the state, where he allegedly serially abused her. 

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The matter was registered in suit number PMC/230c/2021 before Senior Magistrate C. Gomba Osaro.

The one count reads, “That you Mgbechi Wekwa on 13th day of January, 2021 at Rumuakwunde in Emohua Local Government Area, but triable in Port Harcourt magisterial district did unlawfully and sexually abuse one Victoria Edwin ‘female’ 16 years old by inserting your penis into her vagina and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 32(1)(2) of the Child’s Right Act Cap. 50 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2003.”

The accused pleaded not guilty in all the charges while his lawyer argued his bail application.

But Senior Magistrate, Gomba Osaro, adjourned the hearing for bail consideration for the defendant to Monday 22 February, 2021 while ordering the remand of the defendant in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

Speaking outside the courtroom, Mrs Jane O. A. James, counsel for the complainant on behalf of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, expressed displeasure that the allegation against the accused was watered down to Section 32(1)(2) of Child’s Rights Act 2013, which is a charge of sexual abuse and exploitation instead of Section 31(1)(2), which captures the definition and punishment for rape. 

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