Defilement: Court Remands Two Students

A Chief Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, presided over by Chief Magistrate Rita Oguguo has ordered that two male students of Okporo Secondary School in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State be sent to remand home on charges bordering on defilement.
The two students: Chukwudi Daniel and Confidence Samuel Gbarabe, aged 14, were arraigned, yesterday on charges bordering on defilement and gang rape.
The two male students pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Counsel representing the two male students, Chinedu Ndah, prayed the court to grant his clients bail in exercise of its powers.
Ruling on the bail application, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Rita Oguguo, after listening to the parties, ordered that the two students be remanded into remand home in Port Harcourt.
She later adjourned the case to December 7 for ruling on the bail application and hearing.
The charge sheet PMC/1732c/2021 read thus: “That you Chukwudi Daniel ‘m’ and Confidence Samuel Gbarabe aka pipeline ‘m’ on the 27th day of October, 2021 at Okporo Secondary School in Port Harcourt Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to wit: defilement and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516A of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol,11 Laws of Rivers State Nigeria.
“Count 11 read ‘that you Chukwudi Daniel ‘m’ and Confidence Samuel Gbarabe aka Pipeline ‘m’ on the aforementioned date and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully and sexually abuse one (name withheld) age 14 years by inserting your penis into her vagina and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol 11, Laws of Rivers State.”
Speaking to journalists outside the court room, a member of International Federation of Women Lawyer(FIDA), Emi Jim George holding watching for the Compliant on behalf of FIDA, said FIDA were called into the matter and FIDA followed it up till it was brought to the court and FIDA will continue to follow up to ensure justice is served to all parties in the matter.
The Tide reports that no representative from Okporo Community Secondary School was present during the hearing of the matter, yesterday.

By: Akujobi Amadi