MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 49-year-old man was arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in the Ikeja Magisterial District, Lagos State, on a one-count charge relating to an alleged sexual offence. The charge was filed by the Commissioner of Police.
According to the charge sheet dated April 30, 2026, the defendant was accused of committing the alleged offence on April 11, 2026, at about 9:00pm in the Shasha Egbeda area, within the Lagos State Magisterial District.
Count 1 of the charge stated that the defendant allegedly had sexual intercourse with a female adult without her consent. The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, prescribes punishment for the offence of rape. The law defines consent and outlines penalties for offenders convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction in the state.
In line with journalistic ethics and to protect the privacy of parties involved, the name and other identifying details of the complainant have been withheld in this report. The charge sheet refers to the complainant as a female adult.
However, the court did not take the defendant’s plea following an application moved by the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asking the court to refer the matter to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for legal advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O. Tanimola, ordered the defendant’s remand in the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice. She directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and transmit it to the DPP for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned to a later date for mention and to receive the report of the DPP’s advice, which will determine whether the case will be transferred to the High Court or remain at the Magistrate Court.
The matter is being prosecuted by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
An affidavit in support of remand attached to the file was deposed to by an Inspector of Police attached to the Domestic Violence Police Investigation Department, Alausa, Ikeja. The officer stated that the case was reported through the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA.
DSVA was established by the Lagos State Government to provide support, medical care, and legal assistance to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The agency also works with the Police to investigate and prosecute such cases.
According to the affidavit, the suspect was arrested on April 27, 2026, by DSVA and referred to the Domestic Violence Police Investigation Department, Alausa, Ikeja, where he made a statement to the Police. The investigating officer stated that she was of the opinion that the suspect be remanded in prison custody pending duplication of the case file and legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. The document was sworn to at the Magistrate Court Registry, Ikeja.
The charge sheet represents allegations made by the prosecution. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. All parties are entitled to fair hearing under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.