Married Man, 46, Caught Sleeping With Girl, 6
CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 46-year old married man, Olanipekun Saliu, has landed in trouble after he was allegedly caught sleeping with his neighbour’s 6-year old girl.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Ijadola Street, Shogunle area of Oshodi, Lagos, were they reside.
It was gathered that the married suspect, Saliu, had reportedly been sleeping with the victim whenever his wife and children were not around by luring her into his apartment. The alleged assault was said to have continued until the victim’s parents suspected that something was wrong after they observed that their 6-year old daughter had been deflowered. The parents asked her who was responsible and she mentioned the name of their married neighbour, Mr. Saliu.
The matter was reported to the Police in the area and the suspect was arrested. He was later transferred to the Gender Section of the Police Command for investigation.
In the course of investigation, the suspect, Saliu, was said to have denied committing the alleged offence until the victim was brought before him. The 6-year old victim then explained how Saliu had raped her and he became speechless.
The Police found the suspect, Saliu, culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for defilement of a minor.
The Court did not take his plea after the prosecutor, Supol Benson Emerhi, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice because the offence involved a minor.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat, ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody without an option of bail.
The Court also directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send to the DPP for advice. Mr. Saliu’s case may be transferred to the High Court if the DPP finds him culpable and recommends his trial for statutory rape. He may be handed several years in jail if the Court finds him guilty after trial for the alleged offence.