An aide to Cross Rivers Governor Ben Ayade, Edet Asim, is in police custody over alleged rape of a 15- year- old girl (name withheld).

Asim, a lawyer and the Special Adviser to Governor Ayade on Biodiversity, was also Commissioner for Information and later Commissioner for Sports under former Governor Liyel Imoke.

It was gathered girl had been continuously sexually defiled for the past three years by the aide, who is also a former chairman of Calabar Municipality local government area with the consent of her mother.

The mother is also in custody.

Although it could not be immediately confirmed, sources said the girl had been coerced to having two abortions since the defilement started.

She was also allegedlyforcednot to mention it to anyone.

It was learnt it was in the process of a third abortion, which led to complications that damaged her womb, that the matter became public.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the development.

“Yes, he is in detention. The case was reported yesterday and he has been arrested. The DPO is still trying to conclude.

“They have to send the matter to State CID. It is a serious case. So we are waiting for it. The man is in our custody.

“He is at Airport Police Station right now, but very soon, he will be transferred to State CID.

“The mother is also in custody. She and the man were working together. They are accomplices,”Ugbo said.

•Sourced from The Nation report