THUNDER BAY — A Nigerian man facing charges of sexual assault will remain in custody after being denied bail.
Somtochukwu Obiegbunam, 24, appeared before Justice of the Peace Tobey Meyer via video from the Thunder Bay District Jail for a bail hearing on Tuesday.
Obiegbunam was charged on March 30, 2023 with one count of sexual assault. He is also facing another charge of sexual assault from a separate incident in August 2022.
Meyer ruled that Obiegbunam did not meet his onus on the secondary grounds and he was ordered detained until trial.
The charges relate to an incident the evening of March 29. According to the Thunder Bay Police Services, officers responded to the Pacific Avenue and Spring Street area at approximately 6 a.m. on March 30 for reports of a sexual assault.
The complainant was located in the area and transported to hospital. The complainant told police she had been socializing with friends the previous evening before going to a home on the 700 block of McKenzie Street where she was allegedly sexually assaulted.
The accused was identified as Obiegbunam by investigators and he was located at the McKenzie Street residence where he was arrested and charged.
Obiegbunam will make another court appearance on April 26.
