MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 16-year old boy, Chinedu Ndubueze, may spend the rest of his life in prison custody for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s 3-year old daughter in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the boy has been arrested and charged before the Court for allegedly defiling the victim and remanded at the juvenile centre over his alleged conduct.
The incident happened at Lekan Adebisi Street, Chemist bus stop, Agric Road, Igando, Lagos.
The Police alleged the boy to have lured the victim into an apartment and engaged her in sex before the matter got exposed and was reported at Igando Police Division.
The victim’s parents insisted that the boy must be prosecuted and consequently he was charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
Hence, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, ordered him to be kept in a remand home and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for advice due to the nature of the matter.
The matter was adjourned till 3rd October, 2024, 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.
Despite his age as a minor, he may likely be jailed for life for the alleged offence if he is found guilty in line with the Criminal code of the State.