By Imelda Osayande
The Edo State Special Criminal Court sitting in Benin on Thursday ordered the remand of Kingsley Aliyu, 28, in a correctional centre over alleged kidnapping and rape.
The order followed an ex parte motion filed by the police prosecutor, Emmanuel Ekibade.
After citing relevant provisions of the law, Ekibade urged the court to remand the defendant for an initial period of 14 days pending legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Edo State Ministry of Justice.
The prosecutor told the court that Aliyu, on June 6 at Useh Community Forest within the Benin Judicial Division, allegedly attacked a 29-year-old woman with two long cutlasses and charms and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her without consent.
He further alleged that the defendant kidnapped the woman, held her in captivity in the forest, and demanded a ransom of N12 million before she was rescued.
Ekibade said the two-count charge contravenes Section 7(1) of the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law of Edo State, 2025, and Section 4(1), punishable under Section 5(1) of the same law.
The presiding judge, Justice Terry Momodu, granted the application and ordered the remand of the defendant.
The case was adjourned until July 15.
(NAN)
