June 21, (THEWILL) – Akwa Ibom police command has confirmed the arrest of Moses Armstrong, a member of Actors Guild of Nigeria, for alledgedly raping a minor.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko Macdon, confirmed this in a statement issued in Uyo and made available to THEWILL correspondent in Uyo on Monday.
Macdon said that the Police Command had been inundated with inquiries about one Moses Armstrong, an actor, saying that the actor was arrested on June 9 in the state.
“The popular Nollywood actor and singer, Moses Armstrong, has been arrested by men of the Police Command, for allegedly defiling a 16-year-old girl in the state.
“We arrested the Suspect based on an initial complaint of rape. We have done our preliminary findings and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has taken over the case”, The PPRO said.
He explained that the suspect was no longer with the command, but was taken to court on June 20, by the DPP and remanded accordingly.
THEWILL recalls that the National President of the Guild, Mr Emeka Rollas, had described the case as “a very serious one”, informing that it was being handled by the wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs Martha Emmanuel, through her Family Empowerment and Youth Re-Orientation Path Initiative (FEYReP).
Rollas had explained that the accusation was a sad development, as it involved one of their own and the organisation would not condone such a crime.
“To get involved with a child as young as 16 years is not something I and the association I represent, would stand for. “This is a very sad development involving a member of ours, but I wouldn’t want to comment any further on this case”, he said.
THEWILL reports that the guild has suspended the actor until he is proven not guilty by the court.
Armstrong is a former Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel on Agriculture.
