BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, has ordered the remand of a 25-year-old man, Uchechukwu Idenyi, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service for allegedly sodomising five underaged boys.
Idenyi was said to have, in the month of October 2023, abused the boys, aged between nine and 13, sexually at Amananta Ezzangbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
After harassing the minors and teens sexually, the defendant was accused of committing homosexuality with them by having carnal knowledge of them from their anus.
When the accused person was arraigned on December 4, 2023, the Ebonyi Police Command slammed him with a five-count charge bordering on unlawful and indecent assault and rape.
The suit marked MAB/ 835c/2023 revealed that Idenyi unlawfully and indecently assaulted three of the five boys (names withheld to avoid stigma) by touching and sucking their penis.
The police further alleged that Idenyi unlawfully had carnal knowledge of the two other boys against the order of nature.
Some of the counts contained in the charge sheet obtained by The Point read, “That you Idenyi Uchechukwu ‘m’ aged 25, sometime in the month of October 2023 at Amananta Ezzangbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, within the Abakaliki Magisterial District, did unlawfully and indecently assault one (name withheld) ‘m’ aged 9 years, by sucking his penis with your mouth and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 353 of Criminal Code Cap 33 Volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.
“That you Idenyi Uchechukwu on 16th day of October 2023 at Amananta Ezzangbo, in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, did unlawfully have carnal knowledge of (name withheld) ‘m’ aged 13 years, against the order of nature and thereby committed an punishable under Section 214(a) of Criminal Code Cap 33 Volume 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.”
However, Idenyi pleaded not guilty to the accusations levelled against him.
The defence counsel made an oral bail application for Idenyi with a claim that the charge was framed up. The lawyer assured the court that the accused person had a reliable adult surety resident within the jurisdiction of the court that would ensure he stands his trial.
Opposing the bail application, Police Prosecutor, ASP Chinagorom Ezeh, held that the defendant would jump bail if granted.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Lynda Ogodo ordered that Idenyi be remanded in Abakaliki Correctional Centre for lack of competent jurisdiction to hear such matters and adjourned it to a later date.
She directed the prosecutor to forward all evidences, document and original case file to the Director of Pubic Prosecution for advice on further prosecution.