A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered the remand of a 30-year old man, Enemona Ejeh in a Correctional Centre, Makurdi for allegedly raping a 17-year- old girl.
The defendant, who lives at Igah Eboyi Village in Olamaboro Local Government Area(LGA) of Kogi, is being tried on charges bordering on criminal intimidation, possession of charm and rape.
However, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun did not take his plea for want of jurisdiction.
Mbanongun adjourned the matter until Aug. 5, for further mention.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Godwin Ato told the court that the case was received at the State Criminal Investigation Division, Makurdi on May 12, from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ogbadibo via a letter dated May 8.
According to the letter, one Mr Sunday Onuh of Obu-Otukpa in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue reported at the Otukpa Police Station on May 5 that his daughter was raped by the defendant.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendant deceitfully lured the girl, whom Onuh had sent to the market, into his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
“The defendant threatened the girl with charms, knife and a gun to scare her and he forcefully had sexual intercourse with her without her consent.
“His daughter told him that after the act, the defendant threatened to send his boys to kidnap and kill her and all her relatives if she told anyone,” the prosecutor told the court.
Ato told the court that the defendant was arrested during police investigation and a bunch of charms and a knife were recovered from his room.
He said the offences contravened Sections 398, 218 and 283 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.
