By Martin Iyonguvihi
A 25-year-old farmer, Terhemen Emmanuel has been arraigned by the Benue State Police Command for allegedly raping an 80-year-old woman of Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue.
The accused, who was remanded in prison custody by a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court was charged to court for house breaking, robbery and rape, contrary to Sections 354 and 284 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State 2004 and Section 1(1) of the Robbery and Firearm Special Provision Act 2004.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Kuegh Abugh, the case which was reported to the Vandeikya Divisional Police headquarters by the victim, one Mbalamen Anongu, 80 years female of Ukyagu Ward, Vandeikya LGA stating that, on the same date of August 18, 2022 at about 0200hrs, while she was sleeping in her house, an unknown person later identified to be Terhemen Emmanuel broke into her house and held her neck and asked her to bring all the money she had.
The prosecutor further submitted that the said Terhemen collected the sum of N80,000 and forced her, to the bed and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her, as a result, she sustained wounds on her vagina.
He told the court that during police investigation, the said Terhemen was arrested and he confessed committing the crime and the sum of N700 been part of the robbed money was recovered from him.
No plea for want of jurisdiction was taken in court when the charges were read before the accused person. The prosecutor however, applied for adjournment as investigation in the case is still in progress.
Granting her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Kadoon Gbasha, Esq. adjourned the case to September 23, 2022 for further mention and ordered that the accused person be remanded at the federal correctional centre, Makurdi.
