A 63-year-old man, Chidi Onuogu, has been remanded in the Owerri Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl on multiple occasions.
The Chief Magistrate, O.J. Uzoechi, heard the matter behind closed doors in her chambers on Thursday and described the defendant’s action as unlawful.
—One-count charge of defilement—
The suspect was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on having unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor.
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Police prosecutor Esther Nzeh told the court that Onuogu defiled the minor on April 29, 2026, in his house at Amata, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.
The charge sheet reads: “That you, Chidi Onuogu, male, on the 29th day of April 2026, at Amata Ikeduru in the Owerri magisterial district, did have unlawful carnal knowledge of one [name withheld], female, a girl under the age of 12 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Imo State.”
—Victim’s testimony, defendant’s claim—
The victim told the court that the defendant defiled her in his house five times and threatened to harm her if she told anyone.
The court expressed surprise when the defendant claimed he committed the act in a dream and only found himself on the child when he woke up.
He also disclosed that he gives the child rice when she is hungry. The court told him that was not a justification to defile a 12-year-old.
—Remanded pending DPP’s advice—
The court ordered the remand of the defendant in Owerri Correctional Centre pending the report of the Director of Public Prosecutions on June 23 for possible arraignment at the family court.
—Rights group steps in—
Reacting to the decision, founder of Stand For Humanity, Chidiebube Okeoma, said his organisation was seeking justice for the minor and her family.
Okeoma, a journalist, said some people were trying to subvert justice in the matter because of the child’s background, which prompted his organisation to take up the case and ensure the defendant was arraigned.
“We at Stand For Humanity Foundation are happy that the defendant was arraigned and remanded. We stepped in when we learnt that some people wanted the matter not to come to court. They were intimidating the minor and her poor mother,” he said.
