Mrs. Ekpereamaka Okonkwo, also known as Ukwu Venza, 39, and her husband, Okechukwu Okonkwo, 36, have been remanded in custody by the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Awka for allegedly using underage girls for prostitution in Oba, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports online, the woman was detained last week after Oba youths conducted a brothel raid because they suspected her of hiring undisciplined minors to do sex acts. There were about nine victims discovered in the brothel, three of whom were 13-year-old girls.
She escaped to Asaba, Delta State and later sent her husband to bribe the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Children’s Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, with the sum of N300,000, to enable her return to business.
The Commissioner played along, accepted the money and asked her husband to bring her for settlement. She was arrested when she arrived the agreed location.
The couple who hails from Mbanagwu Village, Otolo Nnewi was arraigned on Wednesday, July 5th, 2023, on a-nine count charge, mainly, official corruption, prevention of course of Justice and procurement of about 5 underage girls for prostitution purposes; punishable under section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991.
The charge was read and interpreted to the defendants, to the satisfaction of the Court.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the nine charges.
The defendants were, however, remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Awka, and Onitsha respectively.
The case adjourned further to the 12th day of July, 2023, for ruling on bail application.
