BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A 21-year-old man from Enyadinogu Ishieke community in Ebonyi State, Joseph Orueze, has allegedly raped his nine-year-old sister and her two friends.
The suspect, who is currently facing trial in suits marked MAB/540c/2021, MAB/539c/2021 and MAB/541c/2021, was alleged to have had unlawful and carnal knowledge of Ngozi, aged 10; Mmesoma, nine and Chinecherem, aged 12 (surnames withheld) on May 14, and July 22, respectively, at their Enyadinogu residence.
The charge read, “That Joseph Orueze, male, on 14th May, at Enyadinogu Ishieke, Ebonyi Local Government Area in the Abakaliki magisterial district, did have unlawful sexual intercourse with one Mmesoma Orueze (female), aged 9 years; and Chinecherem Nwokpuru (female), aged 12 years old and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the Ebonyi Child Right Law and Related Matters, 2010.
“That Joseph Orueze, on the 22nd July, at Enyadinogu Ishieke Ebonyi LGA in the Abakaliki magisterial district, did have unlawful sexual intercourse with Oluchi Nshioku (female), aged 10; and assaulted her by hitting her with machete on her palms and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 34(2) Ebonyi Child Right Law and Related Matters 2010, and Section 355 of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Volume 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
A resident of the village, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said that the suspect was notorious for engaging in questionable behaviours.
He stated that sometimes in July, the suspect was apprehended while trying to rape a 12-year-old girl in the community.
“On the 10th of August, he was arraigned before a Magistrate’s court sitting in Abakaliki, for allegedly having unlawful and carnal knowledge of the minors, threatening and assaulting one of them with machete,” the resident of the community said.
The trial Magistrate, Lynda Ogodo, said her court had no jurisdiction to hear the case as it involved under aged children. She, therefore, ordered that the matter be transferred to the Family court for further prosecutions.
She ordered that the suspect should be remanded in the custodial facility of the Abakaliki Correctional Centre, adding that the case should be transferred to a court of competent jurisdiction.
The matter was adjourned to August 31, for hearing at the Family High Court. presided over by Justice Okoh Justina.
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