A chief magistrate’s court in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital yesterday ordered the remand of 29-year-old Chikodili Igboji for allegedly raping a 50 year-old-widow, Mrs. Chinyere Igwe.
Mr. Igboji who was remanded at the Abakaliki correctional facility following a one count charge of sexual assault brought against him by the prosecution counsel.
He was said to have committed the act on October 5, 2023 at Udenyi village, Izzo Imoha in Ezza North local government area of the state.
Magistrate Chinedu Agama Agama had turned down his request for bail and issued an order for his remand.
Igboji pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. His counsel, Mr. Francis Nwelom, had argued for his innocence but the prosecuting counsel, Insp. Stanley Ngene, objected to the bail request and asked the court to remand him.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, the victim who is a mother of six said the defendant had come to her home at night carrying a knife.
“He walked into my room at night, woke me up from sleep, grabbed me and threatened to kill me if I said anything.
“I was afraid and started shivering. I managed to ask him what was my offence. I pleaded with him to have mercy on me. He pushed me down and raped me. He didn’t stop at that, he went ahead to collect my phone and my N20, 000,” she said.
