Boy, 13, Remanded In Custody Over R*pe Of Boy, 7

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Ezekiel Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja area of Lagos State, where they reside.

He has been arrested and charged before the Court for statutory rape. He was alleged to have lured the victim, engaged him in the act and while he was in the act, he was caught by a neighbour, who raised alarm and the boy’s parents were informed about what happened.

The matter was reported to the Police at Ikeja Division and the suspect was arrested and detained for interrogation over his alleged conduct. After thorough interrogation, he was found culpable of committing the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The Police subsequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged sexual assault by penetrating the victim’s anus without his consent.

The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor,  DSP Kehinde Ajayi, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice since the victim is still a minor.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubenije, ordered his remand in custody pending the outcome of the DPP’s legal advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.

The matter was adjourned till 11th July, 2023, for mention while he will remain in the remand home pending when the DPP’s report will be ready, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.

The matter may likely be transferred to the High Court for the alleged rape if the DPP’s report finds him culpable and recommends his trial for the alleged offence despite his age in line with the Laws of the State.

The names of both the defendant and victim were withheld in line with the policy of P.M.EXPRESS on minors.