A Makurdi Magistrate’s Court on Thursday ordered the remand of a 35-year-old farmer, Justin Fantsay, at the Makurdi Correctional Centre over the alleged rape of his 14-year-old cousin.
Fantsav, who resides at Tse-Shintohol Kaseyol, Guma Local Government Area of Benue, is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, abduction, rape and forced marriage.
The plea of the defendant was, however, not taken by the court for lack of jurisdiction.
The magistrate, Mr Peter Ogwuche, consequently ordered the remand of the defendant and adjourned the case until Nov 9 for further mention.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Jonah Uletu told the court that the case was transferred on Oct 13, from the Divisional Police Headquarters in Daudu, to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi for discreet investigation.
Uletu alleged that on Oct 8, one John Gawan of IDP Camp 11, Daudu reported that a 14-year-old girl from the camp was raped.
He alleged that the complainant reported that the victim and her mother Mrs Anachan Akaasar both residents of the IDP Camp, had gone to assist the defendant on his maize farm on Oct 6.
He alleged that on their way back from the farm, the defendant conspired with a motorcycle rider, known as Atashion, to abduct the victim his cousin, and whisk her to his house.
The prosecutor alleged that the complainant further reported that the defendant took the victim into his room and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her twice, without her consent.
He said the defendant also kept the girl in his house for two days for forced marriage.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant was consequently arrested by the police and during investigation, he confessed to the crime.
The offences contravene the provisions of sections 97, 269, 274 of the Penal Code Law of Benue, 2004 as well as the provisions of section 3(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2019.
