A 39-year-old man, Idris Abdullahi, has been remanded by a Makurdi Upper Area Court in Benue State for allegedly defiled a 15-year-old at gunpoint.
The suspect was kept in the prison facility on Friday by the Magistrate, Mrs Dooshima Ikpambese.
According to the Magistrate, pending advice of the state director of public prosecutions, the defendant, a resident of 39, Eri St., North Bank, should remain at the Maximum Correctional Centre, Makurdi.
Rejecting the defendant’s plea for want of jurisdiction, Ikpambese adjourned the case until July 20 for mention.
The prosecutor, Insp. Veronica Shaagee, told the court the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi, from C Division, North Bank, Makurdi, on June 27.
According to Shaagee, Mr. Clement Gele of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, North Bank, Makurdi, reported the case on June 25.
She said that Gele reported that the defendant defiled his granddaughter at gunpoint while she was going to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, North Bank.
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In another news, no fewer than 11 passengers died in a crash that injured eight others around the Ovia Bridge on the Edo State end of the Benin-Lagos Expressway on Thursday.
It was gathered that the crash which occurred around 11am involved a Toyota Hiace 18-seater bus and a truck belonging to the Dangote truck.
The driver of the truck was said to be heading towards Benin, Edo State when he rammed into the bus that had slowed down at the failed portion of the road.
An eyewitness, who does not want his name mentioned in print, said while some of the passengers died on the spot, others who sustained injuries were rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for treatment.
“The Toyota Hiace bus going to the East en route Edo State slowed down at the bad portion of the Ovia River Bridge but the Dangote truck that was on top speed rammed into it, killing the passengers and injuring others,” the eyewitness said.
The state Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Paul Okpe, confirmed the crash.
He said, “We had a crash on the bridge at Ovia River this morning. A truck ran into a Toyota Hummer bus and 11 persons lost their lives and eight persons were injured. Both the dead and the injured were moved to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital by our ambulances. Three vehicles were involved.