Court remands man for allegedly defiling minor in Rivers

A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded a man, David Olufemi Alonge, at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, for allegedly defiling a minor of two years and 11 months.

In a charge, which was sighted by journalists, Alonge, a teacher in a private school in Rumuodumaya, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, was alleged to have, on May 8, defiled the child, who is a pupil at the school he teaches, using his hand and his penis.

The accused is being arraigned by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police.

He was not allowed to take his plea in the charge, which is said to be an offence punishable under Section 33 Subsection 1 of the Rivers State Child’s Right Law Number 6 of 2022.

Chief Magistrate Ogeh, following existing legal advice from the office of the Attorney General that such an offence should be tried under Section 32 Subsection 2 of the child rights law of Rivers State, directed that the accused be remanded at the correctional centre.

The case was adjourned to September 6, for proper arraignment of the suspect at the State High Court.