The Anambra State Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka has remanded a businessman and three others alleged to have raped and impregnated a mentally challenged girl.

The defendants, Christopher Nnamah, 54, Ndubuisi Ikechelu, 40, Chinecherem Emmanuel, 20, and Kennedy Udogu, 34, at their arraignment on Thursday, had each pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape.

The Chief Magistrate, U.E. Onochie, ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until August 5 for hearing.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Inspector Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the defendants at different times committed the offence at Umuriam village, Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government Area.

She said, “The defendants at different times allegedly lured and took advantage of the 18-year-old girl’s mental state to have canal knowledge of her. Her guardian found out when they discovered she was pregnant and reported the matter.”

 “During questioning the teenager identified the defendants as being responsible for her condition,” the prosecutor added.

The prosecutor noted that the offence was punishable under Section 3(2) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Protection Law of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2017.

She prayed the court to remand the suspects in the Correctional facility as stipulated under Section 130 (2) (a) (b) of the Administration Criminal Justice Law 2022.

(NAN)