by ‘Jola Sotubo

An elderly man in Edo has been arrested and charged to court over allegations of rape said to have been committed on a minor.

65-year-old man, Benjamin Amadi has been remanded in prison after reports that he had forceful sexual intercourse with a 9-year-old girl.

The suspect was arraigned yesterday before an Oredo Magistrate Court sitting in Benin City, the state capital.

Leadership reports:

The accused person was alleged to have committed the offence on January 13, 2014 at a house between 1st and 2nd East Circular Road, Benin City.

He however pleaded not guilty to the one count charge preferred against him, which is punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Peter Asemota said the accused person’s bail would be considered in the course of the trial.

In a reaction, coordinator of the Edo State Child Protection Network (CPN), Jennifer Ero, said the fight against sexual and other related forms of abuse on children is a continuous one that must be won and called on citizens and residents of the state and other stakeholders to be committed to the cause with a view to discouraging child molesters, even as she urged them to report such cases to the police for necessary.