A seminarian in the Anglican Communion, Chukwudi Okoye has been nabbed for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old child in Amanuke, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Okoye, 34, hails from Enugwu-Agidi but is a resident of Amanuke.
During interrogation, the suspect claimed he only fingered the victim as his manhood could not penetrate her private part.
The suspect pleaded for pardon, attributing the act to the devil’s handiwork.
“She came to my house and I gave her plates to wash for me and after she finished, she came and asked me to follow her to her graduation but I told her that I don’t want to go.
“She now laid down and I don’t know what came over me and I then removed her clothes and did the thing.
“I never intended to do such a despicable act but was lured into it when the 10-year-old laid on my bed,” he confessed.
Meanwhile, the 10-year-old victim said she was defiled on her graduation ceremony day.
She said, “It was on the day of my graduation ceremony, the man called me alongside my friend to come and wash plate for him.
“After we finished washing the plate, he discharged my friend and asked me to play with him before taking me to the bed where he removed my clothes and had carnal knowledge of me.
“I didn’t tell anyone of the incident because he seriously warned me never to tell anyone, otherwise he will deal with me.”
On her part, the grandmother of the victim said she got to know of the incident a week after the girl fell seriously ill.
“I took her to the suspect’s house after learning he was responsible.
“I insisted he must take her to the hospital where we were referred to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka for further treatment,” she added.
Confirming the incident, the Anambra Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo said the suspect has been handed over to police for further investigation and would be charged.
She said the incident happened sometime in July but was brought to her notice this month.
