A Chief Magistrate Court in PortHarcourt presided over by Chief Magistrate Rita Oguguo on Thursday remanded two male students of Okporo Secondary School in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State to remand home on charges bordering on defilement.
The two students Chukwudi Daniel and Confidence Samuel Gbarabe aged 14 were arraigned on Thursday on charges bordering on defilement.
The charge sheet PMC/1732c/2021 read ‘That you Chukwudi Daniel ‘m’ and Confidence Samuel Gbarabe aka pipeline ‘m’ on the 27th day of October, 2021 at Okporo Secondary school in Port Harcourt magisterial district did conspire amongst yourselves to wit:defilement and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516A of the criminal code,cap 37 vol,11 laws of Rivers State Nigeria.
Count 11 read ‘that you Chukwudi Daniel ‘m’ and Confidence Samuel Gbarabe AKA pipeline ‘m’ on the aforementioned date and place in the afore magisterial district did unlawfully and sexually abuse one (name withheld) age 14 years by inserting your penis into her vagina and thereby committed an offence. offence punishable under section 221 of the criminal cod,e cap 37,vol 11,laws of Rivers State.
The two male students pleaded not guilty when the charges was read to them.
Chinedu Ndah Counsel representing the two male students prayed the court to grant his clients bail in exercise of its power.
Chief Magistrate Rita Oguguo after listening to the parties remanded the two male students to remand home in PortHarcourt and adjourned to 7th December for ruling on bail application and hearing.
Speaking to journalists outside the court room, a member of International Federation of Women Lawyer(FIDA) Emi Jim George holding watching for the Compliant on behalf of FIDA, said FIDA were called into the matter and FIDA followed it up till it was brought to the court and FIDA will continue to follow up to ensure justice is served to all parties in the matter.
Our correspondent reports that no representative of Okporo community secondary school was in court.