Two young men in Edo state have been charged to court over allegations of rape and assault on a 12-year old girl.
The police in Edo State on Tuesday arraigned two men before an Egor Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping and assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Egor local government area of the state.
Names of the suspects were given as Festus Owie (20) and Blessing Ebiminor (21). They were arraigned on a three-count charge of defilement, rape and assault and the offence was committed on October 26, 2014 at 46, First Oromina Street, off Siluko road, Benin City.
The offences contravene Sections 218 and 222 of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, applicable in the state.
The charges read, "That you, Festus Owie (aka Ebo) on or about October, 2014, at about 1200 hours at No. 46, First Oromina Street, off Siluko road, Benin City, in the Egor Magisterial district did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with one Beauty (surname withheld) aged 12 years, by inserting your joystick into her vagina and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo State.
“That you, Blessing Ebiminor, on or about October, 2014, at about 1200 hours at No. 46, First Oromina Street, off Siluko road, Benin City, in the Egor Magisterial district, did indecently assault one Beauty (surname withheld) aged 12 years, against her consent and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 222 of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo State.
The suspects pleaded not guilty and the Presiding Magistrate, Igho Braimoh, insisted that the case must go on despite pleas that the first accused person has paid the victim the sum of N100,000 to withdraw the case.
Braimoh adjourned the case to October 19 for further hearing.