Police arraign 2 for alleged rape of minor in Benue

A Makurdi Upper Area Court on Wednesday remanded one Terungwa Achin, 20 at the Federal Correctional Centre, Makurdi for alleged rape of a minor in Makurdi, Benue State.

Also arraigned along with Achin by the police, but granted bail, is one Anhwange Avalumum, 20; in whose home the rape took place.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Veronica Shaagee, told the court that the case was reported by one Ikpa Ahua of Udi Village; with the report made at the Tarkaa Police Station on October 7, 2021. Shaagee alleged that the minor visited Achin in Avalumum’s house but Achin forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.

She told the court that during the sexual intercourse; the minor sustained injury as blood gushed out of her vagina and she was rushed to hospital. The prosecution said the act contravened Section 97 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State 2004; as well as Section 3(1) of Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Benue State 2019.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Rose Iyorshe did not take plea of the defendants due to want of jurisdiction. Instead, she ordered that the case file should be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

However, the Magistrate granted Avalumum bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

She said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case until Nov. 10 for mention.

In a related development, a 14-year-old minor (name withheld) on Wednesday in a video played during proceedings at an Ikeja Special Offences Court alleged that Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha, told her he was her boyfriend.

The video was a taped recording of the child forensic interview conducted on May 15, 2021.

The interview was conducted by Mrs. Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode; a child expert and the Executive Director of the Cece Yara Foundation. Equally important, the video was played during the cross-examination of Ajayi-Kayode by the defence counsel. Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN).

The child, during the interview, described the interaction she had with the 49-year-old embattled actor on April 19; when she met him at her foster mother’s home. He was invited to the child’s foster Mum’s home following revelations that he had defiled her seven years ago and unbeknownst to him; a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera had been set up in the home.