Court Rejects Bail for 26-Year-Old Accused of Assaulting Minor, Spreading STDs

A 26-year-old man, Jonathan Okoronkwo, has been ordered into custody at the Afara Correctional Centre in Umuahia over allegations of sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl and infecting her with sexually transmitted diseases.

He is facing trial at Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Umuahia on a single count of child defilement. The police prosecutor, Chinyeaka Njoku, informed the court that the incident took place on March 15, 2025, in the Ugwuafor Arochukwu area of Arochukwu Local Government.

The alleged offence contravenes Section 7, subsections 1 and 2 of the Abia State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, 2019.

Okoronkwo pleaded not guilty. His legal counsel, Mr. Okocha, appealed for bail, assuring the court that the defendant had reputable individuals ready to serve as sureties.

However, the prosecutor strongly objected, citing the seriousness of the charge and the possibility of the defendant absconding if granted bail.

Presiding over the case, the chief magistrate agreed with the prosecution, noting the gravity and frequency of such crimes in society. She ruled that the defendant be remanded, pending further mention of the case on June 26, 2025.

The court had assumed jurisdiction under Section 100 of the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

Speaking to journalists, the mother of the minor, Onyinyechi Abia, claimed that her daughter had contracted STDs due to the alleged abuse and has since been undergoing treatment. She called on authorities to ensure justice is served.