MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 23-year old man, Sodiq Ojolowo, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly breaking into the house of a 47-year old married woman with a machete, raping and thereafter stealing her money before he escaping.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Yusuf Olatunji Street, Ikotun area of Lagos, where the victim resides.
The suspect allegedly targeted the victim when her husband was not around, entered her room with a machete, inflicted injury on her forehead in order to intimidate her and forced her to remove her pants before he forcefully penetrated her.
Having satisfied himself, he stole her money inside the room and escaped without the victim raising alarm as he threatened to kill her if she does so.
Ths matter was reported to the Police at Ikotun Division. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspect and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, Sodiq Ojolowo ‘m’ at No 10, Yusuf Olatunji Street, Ikotun, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial district, did unlawfully break into the house of one Aminat Apeke, 47 years old and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 309(2), of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:” That you, Sodiq Ojolowo ‘m’ on same date, time, place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully enter into the room of one Aminat Apeke ‘f of 47 years old and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 308(2), of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Sodiq Ojolowo ‘m’ on same date, time and place, in the Aforesaid Magisterial District, did rape One Aminat peke ‘F’ of 47 years old and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 260(2), of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT IV:”That you, Sodiq Ojolowo ‘m’ on same date, time and place, in the Aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira), the property of one Aminat Apeke ‘f of 47 years old and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 280/287, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT V:”That you, Sodiq Ojolowo ‘m’ on same date, time and in the Aforesaid Magisterial District, did assault one Aminat Apeke ‘m’ by macheting her forehead, which caused her bodily harm and thereby commited an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 173, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.”
However, the Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O. Tanimola, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice 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 available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.