Bishop, Others In Custody For Alleged Rape

The Chairman of  Pentecostal Bishops in Rivers State, Bishop Jude Chibuike Nwabueze and a public Health practitioner, Mr Kazeen Ajibola have been remanded in prison custody by a Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly raping and aborting a 15 year-old female secondary school student in the state.

The accused persons, Bishop Jude Chibuike Nwabueze, 48, and Kazeen Ajibola, 27 and others at large are standing trial on a three count charge of rape, abortion and unlawful carnal knowledge before Chief Magistrate E.C. Woke on charge no PMC/1394 2013.

The police prosecution told the court that the accused persons and others now at large on the 4th of June 2013 at Abishola Clinic, Rumukwurushi in the Port Harcourt Magisterial district conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit: procurement of abortion.

The prosecution also told the court that the accused persons on the same date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did unlawfully procure the miscarriage of a fifteen  years old girl.

The prosecution further told the court that the accused persons on  April 29th, 2013 at No 98 East-West Road, Rumuodara, Port Harcourt within the aforesaid magisterial district did have unlawful carnal knowledge of a fifteen years old girl and committed the offence punishable under section 516(1), 230 and 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. ll Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

The accused persons were not allowed  to take plea on the charge brought against them.

In his ruling, the presiding Chief Magistrate E.C. Woke said the court lacks the jurisdiction to try the accused due to the nature of their offences and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.

He also ordered that the case file be forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice and advised the accused persons that they were at liberty to apply for their bail in the High Court.

The case was later adjourned to the 21st of August, 2013 for hearing on the DPP advice.