Tony Osauzo, Benin

A high court in Benin, Edo State, has ordered three persons to be remanded in prison custody for alleged abduction and insertion of raw pepper into the private parts of Favour Ada Friday, who they accused of phone theft.

The three persons included the head of a vigilance group in Ugbiyoko community, Mr. Lucky Igbinovia, popularly known as One Man Squad, Joel Otoghile and Iyamu Kingsley.

The order for their remand followed their arraignment on a 14-count charge bordering on unlawful attempt to kill, kidnapping, attempted murder, unlawful administration of noxious substance into the vagina of Ada and unlawful trial by ordeal.

Other charges included indecent assault, extortion by threat, and publication of defamatory matters, false accusation, stripping of Ada naked and recording the scene on video.

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Prosecuting counsel, Peter Ugwumba, urged the presiding judge, Justice J. Acha, to remand the suspects in prison, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution. Ugwumba told the court that investigations showed that no phone was missing, and the allegation was concocted to extort money from the victim.

He also told the court that a native doctor yet to be arrested magically inserted two live bullets in the body of Ada, saying she would die if she refused to confess.

After listening to the submission of the prosecution counsel, Justice Acha remanded the suspects in prison custody and adjourned the case to March 6, 2019.

He also ordered the prosecution to produce other suspects at large in court, especially the magician/native doctor that pointed at Ada as the person who stole the phone belonging to Joel.