Defilement Of 12-yr-old Girl: Court Remands Accused Person In Correctional Centre
A Chief Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt presided over by V. L. Kobani-Buzugbe Esq last Monday remanded Victor Elem, a 55-year-old man accused of defiling a twelve-year-old physically challenged girl at Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area to correctional centre.
The court however, adjourned to 23rd May,2022 for legal advice.
Speaking outside the court, Jane O. Okpamen, lawyer holding watching brief for the complaint on behalf of Legal Care Advocacy Foundation told newsmen that the charge was not read to the defendant because by the provision of the magistrate court criminal trial practice direction N0 1, of 2022 section 3,the Magistrate Court lacks jurisdiction to try and should be brought by way of remand proceeding which has also been provided for in section 300 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, of Rivers State,N0 7 of 2015.
Recall that the accused was remanded to correctional centre last Friday when he was brought to court as the Chief Magistrate did not sit.
The accused was first arraigned by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) of the Rivers State Police command last week Friday. He was remanded in correctional centre till last Monday as the Chief Magistrate was not on seat on the first day.
