Court Remands Rivers Varsity Staff For Alleged Abduction, Sexual Abuse Of 16-year-old Girl

A Chief Magistrate sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday, remanded a security staff of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Mgbechi Wekwa, for an alleged unlawful and sexual abuse of a 16-year-old-year-old girl.

Recall that the 45-year-old suspect was said to have organized some boys to abduct the victim at gunpoint from Aluu in Ikwerre local government area to Rumuakwunde in Emohua LGA, where he allegedly serially abused her. Read here

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 PortHarcourt magisterial district did unlawfully and sexually abuse one Victoria  Edwin  ‘f’  16 years old by inserting your penis into her vagina and thereby committed an offense 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, Jane O. A. James (Mrs) the lawyer holding watching brief 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.