Two Princes have been arrested by Police operatives in connection with the case of an alleged rape of a 15-year-old princess and secondary school student (names withheld) in the palace of the Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko, Aniocha North Local Council, Delta State.
The suspects, Prince Richard Nwoko and Prince Ejimofor Nwoko, were arrested in the premises of the Magistrates’ Court, Asaba, after several unsuccessful attempts by the police to pin them down over the alleged offence.
Police sources told newsmen yesterday that efforts were on to arrest the principal suspect and others, including the crown prince, Nonso, so as to unravel the true position concerning the case that had attracted reactions from sections of the society.
According to the source, the arrested suspects made statement to the police and were detained while investigation is continuing, adding that the arrests reduced tension in the community after the incident.
Police investigation into the case was spurred by a petition written by Walter Eziashi, a former President-General of Idumuje-Ugboko Development Union, alleging that after the rape, some royal princes and others allegedly covered up the case after sanctioning the suspect and imposing a fine of four goats and the sum of N400,000 on him.
The alarm raised by Eziashi also attracted female lawyers in Nigeria, under the aegis of FIDA, who called for thorough investigation to give justice to the teenage victim.
The Public Relations Officer of FIDA, Delta State, Mrs. Stellamaris Mejulu, expressed delight with the arrest of the suspects and urged the police to prosecute all those linked to the case.
The Delta State police boss, Zanna Ibrahim, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspects were picked for compounding a rape case. “The main suspects are at large but we arrested these two because they compounded the issue by settling a crime using native customs. The law does not recognize such native fine. We have charged them to court. They would face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
