Orji, who was first arraigned before the Magistrate Court 1, Abia South LGA of Abia State on June 20, 2023 was denied bail when the case was called up again on Friday July 6, 2023.

A man identified as Mr. Wogu Nwamuo who presented himself as the father of the survivor though his name and that given by the girl did not match informed the court that the girl has been taken away by her elder brother who lives in Abuja, and that informed why she was absent in court.

Reacting to why he was in court without the child, Mr. Nwanmuo who appeared to be acting out an already rehearsed script said in Igbo said, ‘achoghi m nsogbu, achoro ta emechie ihe n’ile’ (‘I don’t want trouble, I’ll like the case to be closed’).

Infuriated by his response and his non recognition of the psychological trauma it could cause on the survivor and his insensibility, Mr. Wogu was berated by the magistrate, adding that men like him are the reason for the increasing rate of sexual crimes against minors in the society while insisting that justice would prevail.

The judge however, denied an appeal for bail by the defence counsel on the grounds that rape is a bailable offence, and that an accused who had not pleaded guilty to a charge is presumed innocent until proven beyond reasonable doubt was denied by the court.

According to the Magistrate, Jane Uloma Young-Daniel, the suspect is being denied bail due to the gravity of the offence and the perceived drama surrounding the case.

The case was adjourned to July 18, 2023.

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This case is being facilitated by Vivacious Development Initiative