Three Nigerian police officers docked for assaulting teenager

Three police officers in Ebonyi State were on Wednesday arraigned on a ten- count charge for their role in the torture of Uzoamaka Chukwu.

The officers, all corporals, arraigned are Paulinus Nwadonwe, Monday Nweke, and Irondi Obinna. Others arraigned are the Coordinator of Ohaozara West Development Centre, Ene Ogbonnaya, and his two brothers Ene Enekwachi and Ene Martin.

The accused persons had last month stripped the 15-year-old girl and flogged her.

Mr. Ene and the other five were accused of unlawfully causing injuries to Uzoamaka Chukwu by forcing her to lie on broken bottles and hitting her with cables and electric wires.

The incident reportedly took place at the home of the coordinator.

They were also accused of indecent assault, abduction of a minor, deprivation of liberty and publication of defamatory matters.

The accused also reportedly videoed the incident and distributed same on social media, with the false claim that she was caught making love in her father’s house with a man, which exposed her to hatred, contempt and ridicule knowing same to be false.

The officers, according to the court documents, were also accused of demanding N30,000 and N25,000 bribe from Churchman Akpachukwu and Akpa Okorie respectively.

After the charges were read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.

Thereafter, the lead counsel to the accused persons, Friday Akpor, made an oral application for bail. He argued that the charges were bailable offences.

But the prosecutor, Adeola Elumaro, opposed the application arguing that the accused if granted bail could 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 judge also granted the prosecution’s application for accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter to September 18.

Mr. Elumaro, a Superintendent of Police, said the prosecution asked for accelerated hearing so as to enable Uzoamaka, who was in court, move on and concentrate with her studies.

“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,” he said.