*As Court Adjourns To August 29, 2022
Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt
Chief Magistrate Poromon Menenen presiding over Chief Magistrate Court 13 in Port Harcourt has adjourned the case of an alleged rape of a female student to August 29, 2022.
The accused lecturer, Professor David Ogbonna and the 20 years old female student are of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt by Professor David Ogbonna.
When the case came up in court on Monday 15, 2022, G.U. Amana a Counsel from Ministry of Justice, representing the Rivers State Government informed the court that the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) legal advice on the case is not yet out.
G.U Amana prayed the court for more time so that before the next adjournment the DPP advice would be out.
The defence team did not appose the application of the G.U Amana.
Chief Magistrate Menenen subsequently adjourned the case to 29 August,2022 for continuation.
The Rivers State Government had taken over the prosecution of the case on July 28, 2022.
Recall that State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Port Harcourt had on June 28,2022 arraigned Professor David Ogbonna and the charge sheet read that : “You Professor David Ogbonna on 16th day of May, 2022 at Rivers State University campus, Oruwokwo in Obio/Akpor Magisterial district but triable in Port Harcourt Magisterial district did unlawfully and indecently assault a ‘f’ aged twenty years by inserting your penis into her vagina thereby committed an offence punishable under section 360 of the criminal code CAP 37 Vol.11 of laws of Rivers State, Nigeria 1999.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.