MICHAEL AKINOLA
An Akure Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of a 20-year-old man at the Olokuta Correctional Centre in connection with an alleged case of sexual assault in Ondo State.
The defendant, identified as Samson Okegbua, appeared before Magistrate T.G. Alphonso on Tuesday on a one-count charge under Section 3(a), (b) and (c) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Ondo State, 2020.
The prosecutor, ASP A. Jejeniwa, told the court that the alleged incident occurred on June 11, 2026, at about 2:30 p.m. in Ijagba Community, Ifon. He said the defendant and another suspect currently at large allegedly lured the victim to a residence under the pretence of paying for goods she was hawking.
ASP Jejeniwa informed the court that investigation into the matter is ongoing. He urged the court to remand the defendant pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP.
The victim, whose identity was withheld in line with child and gender protection guidelines, told the court that she hawks herbal medicine and food items in the community to support herself. She alleged that on the day of the incident, she was approached by two men who requested to buy items from her and later asked her to follow them to collect payment. She further alleged that upon getting to the house, she was restrained and assaulted before reporting the matter to authorities.
pmexpressng.com exclusively gathered that the case file has already been forwarded to the DPP’s office in Akure for review, and a decision on prosecution is expected within the next 4 weeks.
Legal experts note that a charge sheet contains only allegations. Under Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law was enacted to eliminate all forms of violence against persons and to provide effective remedies for victims. Section 3 of the Ondo State VAPP Law 2020 specifically addresses sexual violence and prescribes penalties for offenders.
a senior lawyer in Akure said cases charged under the VAPP Law are usually prioritized and often transferred to the High Court within 60 days once the DPP issues advice.
The court did not take the defendant’s plea. Magistrate Alphonso ordered his remand at the Olokuta Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to a later date for mention and to await the outcome of the DPP’s legal advice.
The Ondo State Government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on all forms of violence against persons. Authorities have urged residents, especially young traders, to be vigilant and to report suspicious encounters to security agencies.
Gender-based violence advocates have also called for increased public awareness and stronger support systems for victims. They urged community members to speak up and ensure that such cases are reported promptly to the police or to the Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs.