55-year-old retired police officer forcefully takes 14-year-old as “wife” in Benue
A retired police officer Oliver Ugbaga is facing criminal charges for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl in Benue State.
Ugbaga, 55, was said to have taken the teen child as a wife. The little girl’s mother, Mrs Grace Okoha had petitioned the police commissioner in the state last December, complaining that Ugbaga had held her hostage.
The accused was arraigned at a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court after he was charged with “Procuration of a Minor and Rape’’.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Regina Ishaya, said the mother stated in her petition that all efforts to trace her child’s whereabouts proved abortive after she went out on December 7 and did not return home.
Ugbaga, however, later went to her house and told her that he had taken the girl as his wife.
“The petitioner further stated that the accused thereafter, warned her not to report the matter to anybody,” the prosecutor told the court.
Ishaya added that Ugbaga was arrested and he confessed to the crime.
She also informed the court that investigation into the matter was in progress and pleaded for adjournment to give time for the investigation to be concluded.
The Magistrate, Peter Chaha, granted Ugbaga bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in like sum. The case was adjourned to February 27.
