60-year old man in the dock for allegedly impregnating a minor
By Ehis Agugu
Matthew Omokhafe, a 60 year old farmer who hail from Igarra (Ojirame-Afe village) in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State was on Tuesday, docked at the Igarra Magistrate Court for countlessly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a child aged 13-years against the order of nature and in the process impregnated her sometime last year, 2018.
The survivor (the victim) told court that her biological father died sometime in year 2012.
"The accused, Matthew Omokhafe is my mother's close friend. He forced himself on me when my mother sent me to his house to collect two hundred naira from him and threatened that if I tell anyone, I will die, Victim testified."
Omokhafe was first arraigned on July 11, 2018 and pleaded not guilty to the two count charges preferred against him, punishable under sections 218 and 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 volume 11 Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 as applicable in Edo State.
Three Principal Witnesses, IPO attached to Igarra Divisional Headquarters, IPO attached to State CIID Family Unit as well as the Survivor (the victim), gave evidence before the court which further strengthened prosecution as defense counsels were visibly moody after they carefully listened to the testimonies.
Still on the struggle to End Violence Against Children, the Management of Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development directed a Child Protection Officer of the Ministry, Ehis Agugu who led the nominal complainant (victim) and another principal witness, IPO attached to State CIID Family Unit to court for evidence. This was conveniently achieved in synergy with The Child Protection Network (CPN)-member of the State Child Right Implementation Committee (CRIC) whose members were conspicuous at the Igarra Magistrate Court for the prosecution.
Case adjourned till April 15, 2019, for continuation of hearing.
The survivor (the victim) successfully gave birth to a blossom baby girl on Sunday December 9, 2018, at about 3:00am while in the protective custody of Edo State Government.
Matthew Omokhafe, a 60 year old farmer who hail from Igarra (Ojirame-Afe village) in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State was on Tuesday, docked at the Igarra Magistrate Court for countlessly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a child aged 13-years against the order of nature and in the process impregnated her sometime last year, 2018.
The survivor (the victim) told court that her biological father died sometime in year 2012.
"The accused, Matthew Omokhafe is my mother's close friend. He forced himself on me when my mother sent me to his house to collect two hundred naira from him and threatened that if I tell anyone, I will die, Victim testified."
Omokhafe was first arraigned on July 11, 2018 and pleaded not guilty to the two count charges preferred against him, punishable under sections 218 and 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 volume 11 Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 as applicable in Edo State.
Three Principal Witnesses, IPO attached to Igarra Divisional Headquarters, IPO attached to State CIID Family Unit as well as the Survivor (the victim), gave evidence before the court which further strengthened prosecution as defense counsels were visibly moody after they carefully listened to the testimonies.
Still on the struggle to End Violence Against Children, the Management of Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development directed a Child Protection Officer of the Ministry, Ehis Agugu who led the nominal complainant (victim) and another principal witness, IPO attached to State CIID Family Unit to court for evidence. This was conveniently achieved in synergy with The Child Protection Network (CPN)-member of the State Child Right Implementation Committee (CRIC) whose members were conspicuous at the Igarra Magistrate Court for the prosecution.
Case adjourned till April 15, 2019, for continuation of hearing.
The survivor (the victim) successfully gave birth to a blossom baby girl on Sunday December 9, 2018, at about 3:00am while in the protective custody of Edo State Government.
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