Man remanded for allegedly raping widow in Ebonyi

<p>An Abakaliki Chief Magistrate Court on Wednesday, ordered that 29-year-old Chikodili Igboji, accused of raping Mrs. Chinyere Igwe, a 50-year-old widow, be remanded at a correctional facility.</p>, <p>After turning down the defendant’s request for bail, Magistrate Chinedu Agama-Agama issued an order for his remand.</p>, <p>Igboji is charged with one count of sexual assault, allegedly committed on October 5 at Udenyi village, Izzo Imoha, in the Ezza North local government area of Ebonyi.</p>, <p>He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court.</p>, <p>In his bail application, the defendant’s attorney, Francis Nwelom, emphasized his innocence.</p>, <p>However, Insp. Stanley Ngene, the prosecution attorney, objected to the bail request and asked the court to remand the defendant.</p>, <p>Ngene informed the court that the crime is punishable by section 358 of the 2009 Ebonyi State of Nigeria’s CAP 33 vol. 1 statutes, criminal code.</p>, <p>After the court session, the victim—a mother of six—told reporters about her trauma, saying that the defendant had come to her home at night carrying a knife.</p>, <p>She said the defendant had woken her up from sleep, grabbed her, and threatened to murder her if she said anything.</p>, <p>“I was afraid and started shivering. I managed to ask him, what was my offence? I pleaded with him to have mercy on me that I have no husband and I have six children. Please.</p>, <p>”He pushed me, raped me and went away with my phone and my hard-earned N20, 000″, she said.</p>