From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Police Command yesterday arraigned three policemen, council chairman and his younger on a ten-count charge for their alleged roles in the torture of one Uzoamaka Chukwu in Uburu, Ohaozara council area of Ebonyi State.
The officers, all corporals- Paulinus Nwadonwe, Monday Nweke and Irondi Obinna- who were arraigned alongside the Coordinator of Ohaozara Development Centre, Ene Odii Ogbonnaya and his two brothers Ene Odii Enekwachi and Ene Martin, had last month allegedly stripped the 15- year-old girl for turning down their amorous advances.
Ene and the other five accussed persons were accussed of unlawfully wounding one Uzoamaka Favour Chukwu by forcing her to lie on broken bottles and flogging her with cables and electric wires.
They were also accused of indecent assault, abduction of a minor, deprivation of liberty and publication of defamatory matters.
The accused also reportedly video recorded the incident and distributed on social media, with the false claim that she was caught making love in her father’s house with a man, which according to court records, exposed her to hatred, contempt and ridicule knowing same to be false.
The incident reportedly took place at the home of the cordinator.
They were accussed of conspiracy to commit felony to wit wounding thereby committing an offence punishable under section 516A of the criminal code law, cap 33, laws of Ebonyi State 2009.
The officers according to the court documents were also accused of demanding for N30,000 and N25000 bribe from Churchman Akpachukwu and Akpa Okorie aka City respectively.
After the charges were read to the accussed persons, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Therafter lead council to the accussed persons, Friday Akpor made an oral application for bail as the charges were all bailable offences.
But the prosecutor, Adeola Elumaro opposed the application arguing that the accussed if granted bail can tamper with prosecution witness.
In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Ojemba Isu-Oko granted the accused bail to the tune of N50,000 each.
The Magistrate also granted the prosecution’s application for accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter to the 18th of September for hearing.
However the victim, Miss Uzoamaka Chukwu who was in court looked very refreshed, no doubt due to her adoption by business tycoon, Ms Rita Nnenna Anoh of Veroz Group.
Mr Adeola Elumaro, a Superintendent of Police said the prosecution asked for accelerated hearing so as to enable Uzoamaka move on and concentrate with her studies.
He said: ‘you know she will be starting school soon and we want to get done with the part of the case that concerns her so that she can concentrate with her studies