A middle aged man, Festus Akaninyene Mfonbassa has been dragged before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital for allegedly committing incest with his daughter.
In the one count charge suit marked MAB/745c/2024, Mfonbassa who had no legal representation during the arraignment, was accused of committing the crime on January 29, 2024 at a place popularly known as Mgbabor village off Presco Campus, under Abakaliki magisterial district in the state.
The defendant could not also take his plea considering the severity of the charge.
Police Prosecutor, Superintendent Ezeh Chinagorom noted that the offence is punishable under section 31 of Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2018.
The accused was said to have had carnal knowledge of his daughter (name withheld) aged sixteen years.
The charge read, “That you Festus Akaninyene Mfonbassa on the 29th day of January 2024 at Mgbabor village off Presco campus under Abakaliki magisterial district did knowingly and willfully have carnal incest schedule knowledge of your 16 years old daughter (name withheld) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 31 of Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) law 2018.”
Magistrate Lynda Ogodo, for lack of competent jurisdiction to hear the matter, ordered the remand of the defendant in Abakaliki Correctional Centre.
She ordered the prosecutor to forward the original case file, evidence and all documents in the matter to the Department of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
