An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State has on Tuesday ordered that a 44-year-old trader, Seye Garuba, who allegedly raped a seven-year-old girl, be remanded in a Correctional Centre.
The defendant, who resides at Ojo area of Lagos, is being tried for defilement. Mr Ogunleye, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, told the court that the defendant committed the offense on October 17 at his residence.
He said the defendant unlawfully had sexual intercourse with his neighbour’s daughter, stressing;
The defendant lured the girl into his room, removed her clothes and forcefully had canal knowledge of her. When the girl wanted to shout, he covered her mouth with her clothes.
The defendant was caught in the act and the case was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the defendant.
Ogunleye said medical report revealed that the minor had been raped. The offence, the prosecutor said, violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Magistrate, Ejiro Kubeinje has now ordered for the defendant’s remand in Kirikiri Correctional Centre without an option of bail.
The court also rejected the defendant’s plea following the motion by the prosecutor, Bisi Ogunleye, that the matter should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
The Magistrate directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send to DPP for advice.
Kubeinje then adjourned the case until January 11.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section attracts life imprisonment for defilement if the defendant is tried and found guilty.
