Man, 35, Remanded Over Sex With Girl,12, Under Idumota Bridge

MICHAEL AKINOLA

A 35-year old man, Victor Matthew, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly engaging a 12-year old girl in sex under the Idumota bridge.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the Idumota Bridge, Lagos Island.

According to the Police, the suspect lured the victim to the place, removed her pants and penetrated her private part in order to satisfy his sexual desires. And while still in the act, he was caught, forced to remove his dick from her private part and handed over to the Police for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

During interrogation, the suspect could not deny and the Police subsequently charged him before the Yaba Magistrate Court for forcefully engaging the victim in sex by penetration.

The Court however, did not take his plea when he was arraigned after the prosecutor, Supol Thomas Nurudeen, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the alleged offence.

The charge read:

“That you, Victor Matthew, ‘M’, on the 15th day of August 2024, under the Idumota Bridge Lagos, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did knowingly, forcefully lure the victim ‘f’ aged 12 years at the above scene, removed her pants and had sexual intercourse without her consent and thereby, committed an offence Punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. P.E. Nwaka, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center pending when the DPP’s report will be ready and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for legal advice.

The matter was adjourned for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be ready, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.