2 Ebonyi men allegedly rapes 11-year-old girl in a salon shop

The police charged Okpara Chidiebere, 36, and Nwali Joseph, 37 with conspiracy and defilement. Magistrate Lillian Ogodo did not take the plea of the suspects for want in jurisdiction.

She also rejected the bail application moved by the Defence Counsel. Ogodo ordered they should be remanded in Abakaliki Correctional Centre, as the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the charges.

She, therefore adjourned the case until April 5 for the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Earlier, ASP Eze Ndubuaku, Prosecutor Counsel told the court that Chidiebere committed the offence on February 18 in Ugwuachara, Ebonyi local government area of the state.

Ndubuaku, also explained that Joseph committed the offence sometime in November 2023, at his salon shop, Police Junction, Ugwuachara in the area.

He pointed out that the offences are punishable under section 4 (2) (1) VAPP Laws of Ebonyi 2018. Emeka Odom, Defence Counsel prayed the court to grant his client bail, noting that bail remains a constitutional matter.