The police in Anambra on Thursday arraigned a 27-year-old bricklayer, Chukwuemeka Uwalaka, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl.
The defendant appeared before the state’s Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka, the state capital.
He was arraigned on one-count charge of defilement brought against him, which he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Insp Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Aug. 17, Awka-Etiti in Idemili South Local Government Area.
“The complainant, Mrs Chinasa Okoye, who is the mother of the 12-year-old girl, said she received a call from someone who identified himself as a member of the vigilance group.
“According to her, the member of the vigilance group told her they caught the defendant having canal knowledge of her daughter.
“She said the matter was later reported at the police,” the prosecutor told court.
Okechukwu said the offence contravened Sections 130(2) (a) (b) of the Administration Criminal Justice Law, 2022.
The defendant, however, told the court that he does not know the girl, stating that he has a girlfriend and would never be involved with a minor.
He also informed the court that he did not make any statement at the police station.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs U.E. Onochie, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with one surety in like sum.
Onochie adjourned the case until Sept.10 for report of compliance.
