Student in prison custody over rape

Abuja – An Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court in Karu, FCT on Wedneday, ordered that a student, Fidelis Ojor, 19, be remanded in Keffi Prison, pending ruling in a bail application. Ojor is arraigned for attempted rape of a minor. Senior Magistrate, Anna Akobi, fixed the date after hearing an oral bail application by the counsel to the accused, Mr Sunny Egbaji. Akobi fixed April 4 for ruling in the bail application. Ealier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Bulus Samuel, told the court that Ojor, who lives behind Gowon Barracks, Abuja, lured a three- year-old girl into his house where he attempted to defy her. Samuel alleged that the case was reported at the police station on Jan. 21 by Mr Chibueze Okereke, the girl’s father. He further alleged that the accused forcefully inserted his finger into the minor’s private part, leaving her with bruises and severe pains. He said that the offence contravened section 285 of the Penal Code, which prescribed a seven-year jail term for attempted rape. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. Counsel to the accused, Egbaji, made an oral bail application, stating that “the accused is a promising young man, who has unfortunately become a victim of this allegation’’. But the prosecutor objected to the application on the ground that offences bordering on rape were not ordinarily bailable, adding that investigation was still on-going. He stated that the police were still awaiting results of the medical test carried out on the victim from the hospital. “Granting him bail could affect our investigation as we are not magicians to fabricate facts. “Besides, the accused had earlier been arraigned on the same matter at the Upper Area Court in Karu and the prosecutor applied for withdrawal of the case which was granted. “The prosecutor re-arrested the accused, who was in police custody for more than two weeks, before he was brought to this court today (Wednesday).” (NAN)