The defendants pleaded not guilty for all nine charges brought against them.
A brothel owner, Mrs. Ekpereamaka Okonkwo, 39, and her husband, Okechukwu Okonkwo, 36, have been remanded in prison for allegedly using underage girls for prostitution in Oba, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state.
The couple was detained by the Children, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Court sitting, held at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Awka on Wednesday, July 5.
The woman was arrested last week after Oba youths raided her brothel and rescued nine victims, including three girls aged 13, and some others not older than 19.
She initially fled to Asaba, Delta State, and sent her husband to offer a bribe of N300,000 to the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Children’s Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, to enable her return to business.
The Commissioner played along and accepted the bribe. She then instructed her husband to bring her for settlement. However, upon her arrival at the agreed location, she was apprehended and arrested.
The couple, who both hail from Mbanagwu Village, Otolo Nnewi, was arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on official corruption, prevention of course of Justice and procurement of about 5 underage girls for prostitution purposes; punishable under section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991.
The defendants pleaded not guilty for all nine charges brought against them. However, they were remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Awka and Onitsha.
The case was thereafter adjourned to the 12th of July, 2023, to decide on the bail application.
