KINGSLEY EBERE
A 19- year old boy, Joseph Chinonso Njoku, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly engaging his neighbour’s 9-year old girl in anal sex.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident at Ojo Street, Oguntade area of Shasha, Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the suspect allegedly lured the victim into an apartment, forcefully removed her pants, inserted his dick into her anus and injured her in the process.
However, the alleged dastardly act got exposed after the victim informed her parents about what happened and they reported to the Police in the area. He was then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to have done so but not through her private part.
However, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which is statutory rape and attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.
The prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, then asked the Court to give a date and refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubeinje, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when the DPP’s report will be ready and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for advice.
The matter was adjourned till 28th February, 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.
The matter may likely be transferred to the High Court if the DPP’s report finds him culpable and recommends his trial for rape under Section 261 of the Criminal Code of the State.