Taboo: 80-Year Old Anambra Community Royal Cabinet Member Charged For Defiling 10-Year Old Girl (Read Details)

 The King of Umueri community in Anambra East Local Government of Anambra State, Igwe Benneth Emeka has suspended 80-year-old Vincent Okoye from the royal cabinet for defiling a 10-year-old girl.

 The monarch in an address to members of the All Nations Arise and Manifest Initiative at his palace on Saturday, June 18, said the octogenarian’s action is a taboo that his kingdom won’t condone.

READ ALSO: Video: After Successfully Selling Their Votes In Ekiti Guber, Nigerian Youths Celebrates, Shows Off Wad Of Cash

 He noted that Okoye had been suspended from the royal cabinet as the alleged crime was taboo and embarrassing to the community.

 

“The man in question is a member of my cabinet, he is my financial secretary and immediately the matter was reported, we suspended him and he can never come back to the cabinet again.

 

“The matter has been taken to court and that shows that the community does not condone such crime. We have also given the girl scholarship to show our concern and protect her future. It could have been anybody’s child.

 

“I am advising parents, especially mothers, to be cautious and take responsibility for the safety and security of their children.”

 

Anambra State Police PRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, while confirming the act, said the 80-year-old man had been arrested and charged to court.

 

 Inspector Richard Okoti, the resident prosecutor handling the case, said Okoye had been arraigned at Otuocha Chief Magistrates’ Court on April 29, where he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on health grounds, noting that the police submitted its compliance report on Friday, and the court adjourned the case.

 

But the President, ANAM Transformation Movement, Mrs. Tessy Aniesi, expressed dissatisfaction over the indefinite adjournment of the matter while urging the police to prosecute and ensure justice for the victim.

 

According to her, the case was brought to the organization by the Chairperson of Umuada Umueri, Mrs. Chinasa Madisife.

 

The ANAM President said that Vincent Okoye , a contractor and a member of Umueri royal cabinet, was a family friend of the victim and he usually sent the girl on errands, adding that the alleged crime was reported at the Police Area Command, Otuocha Division, by the Umuada Umueri on April 26, and the perpetrator was arrested.

 

She further stated that the minor was also taken to New life Hospital, Umueri, where it was confirmed that she was defiled.

 

“The workers at the building site where the suspect is supervising said they noticed that each time the girl comes to run errands for the suspect, he takes her to a completed building at the site and locks the door.

 

“On April 26, they saw her come out of the building crying. They called her and she narrated that the suspect always has sex with her whenever her mother asks her to come run errands for him.

 

“The workers confronted the man and called the attention of the vigilante group, the Igwe and the Umuada of Umueri community, and eventually ANAM took up the matter.

 

“During interrogation, the girl said the suspect has been abusing her but she could not report the crime to her mother or anyone because the man threatened to kill her,” she said.