MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 25-year old man, Gafar Ayinla, has been arrested in Lagos State for allegedly forcefully engaging a teenager in sex romp under the Oshodi bridge and was caught in the act.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened while the victim was said to be returning home in the evening and she was accosted and forcefully engaged in the act.
According to Police, while the suspect was in the act, information got to the Police on routine monitoring in the area. The operatives rescued the victim and as well arrested the suspect. They later transferred him to the Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command for interrogation.
During interrogation, the victim narrated her nasty experience while on her way home as she was accosted by the suspect, who threatened and forcefully engaged her in sex before she was rescued.
The Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for statutory rape for engaging her in sex without her consent.
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 give a date and refer the matter to the DPP for advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O Osunsanmi, 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.
The matter was adjourned till 16th March, 2023, 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.
The defendant risks several years of imprisonment for the alleged offence if he is tried and found guilty before Court for the capital offence he was alleged to have committed.