Court Remands 50-Year-Old Man Over Defilement Of Minor

Chief Magistrate Court in PortHarcourt presided over by V.L.Kobani-Buzugbe Esq, has remanded a 50-year-old man, Mr Victor Elem, for allegedly defiling a 12 year old physically challenged girl at Ubima community in Ikwerre Local Government Area to Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
The Court, however adjourned the matter to May 23, 2022 for legal advice.
Speaking to newsmen outside the court, Jane O. Okpamen, lawyer holding watching brief for the compliant on behalf of Legal Care Advocacy Foundation, said that the charge was not read to the defendant , because by the provisions of the Magistrate Court Criminal Trial Practice Direction N0. 1 of 2022, section 3, ‘provides that in offences of this nature the magistrate lacks jusrisdiction to try’,
She pointed out that it would have been brought by way of remand proceeding which according to her, is also provided for in section 300 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law,of Rivers State, N0. 7 of 2015.

By: Akujobi Amadi