A 23-year-old man, Agene Gabriel, has been arraigned before the Nsukka Magistrate Court on a four-count charge of allegedly abducting and assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
Gabriel allegedly travelled from Lagos State to Nkologwu, in the Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, where the incident reportedly took place.
During the court hearing, Presiding Chief Magistrate Samuel Audu decided to move the proceedings to his chambers to protect the minor’s identity. The case has been adjourned until March 20, 2025, for bail consideration.
Gabriel faces charges of abduction, rape, and having carnal knowledge of the minor.
The charges read: “That you, Agene Gabriel ‘M’ between the 7th day of January 2025 and the 7th day of March 2025 at different times in Lagos down to Nkpologu, Uzo-Uwani in Uzo-Uwani Magisterial District, did unlawfully and indecently assault minor ‘F’ a girl under the age of 13, by touching her breast and private parts and thereby committed an offence punishable under session 255 of the criminal code cap 30 vol.II Law of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Agene Gabriel ‘M’ within the same period and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did willfully does an indecent act of keeping ‘Female’ in your apartment and indecently caressing and touching her private part with intent to assault, offend her parents and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 217 (b) of the criminal code cap 30 vol.II Law of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Agene Gabriel ‘M’ within the same period and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did with intent to unlawfully carnally know female, an unmarried girl under the age of 13 years, took her out of the custody and protection of her parents who prior to this period of abduction are in lawful care or charge of her and against the will of her parents and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 209 of the criminal code cap 30 vol. II Law of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Agene Gabriel, ‘M’ within the same period and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did detain female against her will or without her will fundamentally obtain, in your apartment in order for her to be carnally known by you, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 212 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol.II Law of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.”
SaharaReporters learned that Gabriel, who was arraigned on Thursday, pleaded not guilty to all four charges brought against him. His defence counsel, Nenanya Kenneth, subsequently applied for bail.
The presiding magistrate, however, adjourned the case until next Thursday for a ruling on the bail application.
In an interview, the victim’s uncle, Mr. Francis Akaugwu, explained that the magistrate’s decision to hear the case in chambers was aimed at protecting the minor’s privacy and well-being.
