A Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka, Anambra State, has remanded a 46-year-old bricklayer, Rapuruchukwu Ezenandu, over the alleged defilement of his 17-year-old daughter and the transmission of HIV to her.
The defendant faces a one-count charge of defilement. Police Prosecutor Insp. Chinyere Okechukwu informed the court that the accused committed the offence at Umudala village, Nanka community, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The matter came to light in April when the girl’s uncle took her to Lagos for school admission, where medical authorities discovered she was HIV positive. Upon interrogation, the girl disclosed that her father had been sexually abusing her since she was 15. The uncle confronted the accused, who admitted to the acts and to infecting his daughter with HIV.
The case was reported to the police, where the accused further acknowledged his HIV status and ongoing treatment. The offence is punishable under Section 3(2) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Protection Law of Anambra State, 2017.
Chief Magistrate Mrs. U.E. Onochie ordered that Ezenandu be remanded at the Awka Correctional facility and adjourned the case until June 17 for hearing.