A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has ordered the remand of a 38-year-old farmer, Aondowase Bebeshi, over allegations of abducting and trafficking a 14-year-old boy.
Bebeshi, who lives reverse Township Hall in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of the state, is going through costs bordering on abduction and little one trafficking.
At the courtroom proceedings on Tuesday, the defendant’s plea was not taken as a result of the courtroom lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Consequently, the Chief Magistrate, Mr W.A. Orgba, directed that Bebeshi be saved on the Makurdi Correctional Service pending authorized recommendation.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till November 16 for point out.
Presenting the case, the prosecutor, Inspector Jonah Uletu, alleged that the defendant took the 14-year-old boy from Jato-Aka to Benin City with out acquiring permission from his father.
Uletu informed the courtroom that the matter was reported on October 8 on the Divisional Police Headquarters, Jato-Aka, by the boy’s father, recognized as Mr Terfa Maya.
According to the prosecutor, Maya reported that his son left dwelling for Holy Family Secondary School, Jato-Aka, on October 14, 2024, however did not return.
He reportedly mentioned that a number of makes an attempt to find the lacking teenager yielded no outcomes till info emerged that Bebeshi had allegedly taken him to Benin City with out his information or consent.
The prosecutor additional alleged that efforts by the complainant to persuade the defendant to deliver his son again had been unsuccessful.
Uletu added that the police later arrested the defendant, who allegedly admitted to the offence voluntarily throughout interrogation.
The alleged offences are punishable underneath Sections 13 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and 274 of the Benue State Penal Code Law, 2004. NAN
