Olayiwola Matthew
Magistrate Court 1 sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has remanded Adamu Umaru, 48, in custody for allegedly raping and impregnating his 15-year-old daughter.
The respondent is a native of Bundugudu LGA of Zamfara State, residing at No. 27 Edem Odo Street Calabar.
Umaru was remanded by Chief Magistrate Mercy Ene on Friday following hearing on exparte motion filed by the Police Prosecutor, O. S Umoren.
Umoren had argued that the ex parte motion became necessary for the defendant to remain in prison until the completion of investigation on the matter.
The prosecutor said that the motion was in pursuant to Section 4 of the Police Act, 2020 and also the Cross River State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2016.
The motion was however, opposed by the Counsel for the defendant, Mohammed Shaibu arguing that he was not duly served the motion before the arraignment of his client.
The Chief Magistrate subsequently granted the motion supported by eight paragraphs affidavit and adjourned the case till Dec. 3.
The Zone 6 Police Command in Cross River on Thursday paraded the suspect over the allegation of defiling and impregnating his 15-year old daughter. The Command’s spokesperson, SP Nelson Okpabi said the suspect was arrested Friday, Nov. 15, based on petition by one Aisha, the victim’s aunt.
“The personnel of the Zonal Human Rights Unit, acting on a petition referred to the team for investigation, apprehended Adamu Umaru on the 15th of November. The suspect is a native of Bundugudu LGA of Zamfara State, residing at No. 27 Edem Odo St. Calabar, who unlawfully defiled his daughter,” he stated.
The spokesman said the petitioner had stated that she noticed the changes in the girl’s physiology and took her to the hospital, where the test that was conducted confirmed her to be nine weeks pregnant. The police said that the victim in her statement, alleged that her father, Umaru was responsible for her pregnancy.
She added that her father started having illicit affairs with her since 2023 in a hotel located in Calabar and had threatened to kill her should she reveal this to anybody.
“She was further examined by a medical doctor in the Police hospital, Calabar and the result validated the earlier report submitted by her aunt. The manager of the hotel in his statement also admitted that he had seen the suspect severally with the victim in the hotel booking temporary accommodation, but never knew she was his daughter,” explained the PPRO.