From: Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Three persons have been arraigned at a Magistrate Court, Asaba, Delta State, for allegedly compounding a case of rape at the palace of the Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The accused persons include Richard Nwoko (84), Ejimofor Nwoko (70) and Eze Obi Nwoko (31). They are members of the royal family and they facing two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony.
In charge sheet number M1/24c/2017, the prosecutor said the accused persons and others now at large “on the 29th day of July 2016 at Idunuje-Ugboko in the Issele-Uku Magisterial District, did conspire amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: unlawful compounding of a case of rape and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C.21, Vol 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.
The count two read that the accused persons and others now at large on same date and place did unlawfully prevented the appropriate authority from taking requisite measure and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C.21, Vol 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.
When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N50,000 each and a surety in like sum.
The Presiding Magistrate, Roseline Iwerebo, adjourned the case to May 9, 2017 for hearing.
Recall that a 15-year old princess (names withheld) was allegedly raped by unknown persons at the palace of the Obi in 2016 while the late King, Albert Nwoko who died earlier this year, was still alive.
