A 26-year-old man, Jonathan Okoronkwo, has been remanded in prison for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl.
The defendant is standing trial on a one-count charge bordering on child defilement before the Chief Magistrates Court 2 sitting in Umuahia.
The police prosecutor, Chinyeaka Njoku, informed the court that the incident occurred on March 15, 2025, at Ugwuafor Arochukwu, in Arochukwu LGA.
The defendant was alleged to have had carnal knowledge of the minor, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 7, sub-section 1 and sub-section 2 of the Abia State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, 2019.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In a bail application, the defence counsel, Mr Okocha, argued that his client would not jump bail, and that he has individuals with integrity to stand as sureties.
But the prosecutor objected to the application and urged the court not to grant the defendant bail but to remand him at the Afara Correctional Centre, Umuahia, considering the gravity of the offence and the weight of punishment, if found guilty.
In her ruling, the chief magistrate granted the request of the prosecutor and ordered that the defendant be remanded at Afara Correctional Centre, Umuahia.
The chief magistrate ruled that the crime which the defendant is accused of committing is quite rampant in the society, adding that considering that the crime carries maximum punishment upon conviction, there is the likelihood of the accused evading trial.
The matter was adjourned till June 26, 2025, for further mention.
Earlier, the court had assumed jurisdiction under Section 100 of the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
In an interview, the victim’s mother, Onyinyechi Abia, while narrating her ordeal alleged that the defendant infected the little girl with sexually transmitted diseases, STDs, adding that she has been treating the infections ever since.
She called for justice to be done in the matter to serve as a deterrent to others.
