The police in Rivers state have arrested One Bright Okutuoma for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl in the state.
Within Nigeria had earlier reported how Okutuoma raped the girl, who’s a daughter of his neighbour.
The incident happened around the Ibaa community in the Emohua Local Government Area of the state
The victim’s mother had narrated the event that led to the alleged defilement of her daughter and subsequent incidents when she appeared on Cool/Wazobia/Info fm in the Port Harcourt area of the state.
It’s gathered that Okutuoma was at home when he called her neighbour’s daughter to help him buy a sachet of water. the mother of the minor said when her daughter returned with the sachet of water, Okutuoma took her into his flat and allegedly defiled her.
Okutuoma was subsequently arrested by the police.
In a bid to get justice, the victim’s mother said she had been closely following up the case.
She, however, disclosed that a policewoman in charge of the case had been trying to obstruct the course of justice.
She noted that, at the behest of Okutuoma’s family, the policewoman allegedly offered her N500,000 to silence her outcry for justice.
She said, “What I need is that they should take this matter to court so that the government will know what this man did to my little daughter. I reported the suspect to the police but instead of the suspect spending money, I am the one feeding the suspect.
“A policewoman at the station asked me to keep quiet because I don’t have any say. She said the parents of the man want to bring N500,000 and that if I don’t want to accept I should be coming to their office. Since then, whenever I enter their office, the same woman will walk me out despite being the complaint.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that Okutuoma had been arrested, adding that the case would be transferred to the State CID after the holidays for proper investigation.
On the allegation that a policewoman, on behalf of the suspect, offered N500,000 to the mother for the case to be settled out of court, the PPRO said, “If there is any conversation to settle out of court, the police is not aware of that. The Divisional Police Officer said he is ready to transfer the matter to the State CID, but the complainant is not forthcoming.
“So we (police) are not aware of any negotiation for out of court settlement and if any police officer is helping to do that he or she is on his own because the position of the DPO is very clear.”
Discussion about this post