By Osahon Osahon
A family court in Benin, Edo State capital, has remanded two men in prison for allegedly raping and defiling two girls.
The offence contravened section 218 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48,Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel state of Nigeria 1976 as applicable in Edo State.
The two men, Jimoh Imade and Matthew Chigozie, if found guilty could be committed to life imprisonment.
The Chief Magistrate Dorothy Adamaigbo, of a Benin City family court, who ordered that Imade be remanded in prison custody on Tuesday, adjourned the case until May 30, for hearing.
Imade, who is currently being remanded in Oko Correctional Center, in Benin, Edo State, was accused of having unlawful carnal knowledge of 11-year-old girl (name withheld).
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Daniel Ifidon, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 6, 2019, at Egba community, in Uhumwode local government area of Edo State.
He said the accused did unlawfully defile the 11-years-old girl and was arrested by the police on the same date.
The accused person however pleaded not guilty to the one charge of defilement.
The police Prosecutor objected to bail application on the grounds that the offence is not a bailable offence
In a related incident, 30-year-old Matthew Chigozie, was also remanded in Oko Correctional Centre by Chief Magistrate Dorothy Adamaigbo, for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl.
He said that the offence contravened section 357 and punishable under section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48, volume II, laws of the defunct Bendel state of Nigeria 1976, as applicable in Edo.
According to prosecution, “the accused on the same date, did unlawfully had canal knowledge of a teenager, aged 17.
The accused however pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
Chief Magistrate, Dorothy Adamaigbo, who ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, adjourned the case until March 25, for hearing.
