A 32-year-old man, Joseph Obiajulu, was on Thursday been remanded at the Okere Prisons over alleged defilement of a 12-year-old in Warri, Delta State.
Magistrate SOS Yalaju (Mrs) of Warri South Magistrate Court ordered the remand of the accused while awaiting legal advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The accused, a father of three, was arraigned on a two-count charge of defilement and assault to occasional harms on a 12-year old girl (name withheld) under his care.
The girl, a primary four pupil of Isibowe Primary School, Warri, was living with the suspect at Ekurede Urhobo in Warri South Local Government Area.
The Investigative Police Officer (IPO), Inspector Olajide Christian, who held brief for Sergeant Victor Onyema, told the court that the accused had been having a carnal knowledge of the minor, adding that he also inflicted bodily injuries on her.
He said that the suspect was apprehended on Dec. 4 at his shop in Ekorede Urhobo.
“The accused has been having carnal knowledge of the girl since September 2016 till Dec 3, 2017 and also inflicted injuries on her,” he told the court.
The IPO said both offences, defilement and assault to occasional harms, were punishable under Sections 218 and 355 respectively of the Criminal Code Cap C21, Vol. 1 Laws of Delta. Nigeria 2006.
Meanwhile, the victim, at the rising of the court, told journalists outside the court premises that the accused tied her hands backward with a rope and started flogging her over a missing N1, 500.
“I cannot count the number of times he has slept with me.
“My mother is a sister to his wife; she died last year after a brief sickness in his house.
“After the death of my mother, the man said I should be living with them and since then, he has been sleeping with me.
“He inflicted injuries on me with water cane and also robbed my body with ground pepper over a missing N1, 500 that was later found.
“It was the intervention of my school aunties that led to the arrest of the accused,” she said.
The case has been adjourned till Jan. 31, 2018 for mention.