In a firm demonstration of the state’s resolve against gender-based violence, the Enugu State Police Command has arraigned 42-year-old Edwin Eze before an Enugu East Magistrate Court for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in the Nkanu East Local Government Area.
The arraignment, held on Monday before His Worship, Chijioke Idu, comes as the Enugu State Government reiterates its “zero tolerance” policy regarding child abuse and violence against women, vowing to intensify its crackdown on offenders.
Eze faces a one-count charge of unlawful carnal knowledge in suit number CMG/69c/2026. Police prosecutors allege that the defendant committed the offence in November 2025 against the minor, Aniubi Ogechi, at Amanato Mburubu community.
Reading from the charge sheet, the prosecution detailed the severity of the alleged crime:
“That you, Edwin Eze ‘m’, sometimes in the month of November, 2025, at about 1800 hours at Amanato Mburubu Community in Nkanu East L.G.A, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did have unlawful carnal knowledge of Aniubi Ogechi ‘f’ age 13years by inserting your penis into her vagina without her consent and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(1)(a) and punishable under Section 4(1)(a) of the Enugu State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, No. 2 of 2019.”
Following the reading of the charges, Magistrate Idu ordered that the accused be remanded at the Enugu Correctional Centre. The case was subsequently adjourned to February 12, 2026, for further hearing.
Reacting to the development, the Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, stated that the prosecution of Eze serves as a warning that the administration of Governor Peter Mbah will not allow child molesters to go unpunished.
Reaffirming the government’s stance, Mrs. Enih said:
“So, this is yet another case that demonstrates our resolve to bring every offender to book in line with Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Administration’s zero tolerance for acts that violate or abuse our children and women. We shall follow this case to a logical conclusion.”
