KINGSLEY EBERE
A 25-year old man, Monday Reuben, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly engaging his neighbour’s 16-year old girl in sex after fondling her breasts and getting her confused.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 16th February, 2025, at Alhaji Owolabi Street, Alapere Ketu, Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the suspect allegedly lured the victim into his apartment. He then fondled her breasts having held her with words of mouth and she became confused.
He removed her pants and clothes and had carnal knowledge of her because she was unable to resist him having fondled her breasts.
However, the act got exposed when the victim’s sister returned from work at about 2100hours, and did not see her. She inquired and was told that the victim went out with the suspect with other neighbours to buy food items. Not quite long, the other neigbhours came back with the said food items, but the suspect and the victim did not return, which made the sister to be seriously disturbed. She called the suspect to ask the whereabouts of the victim. Later the sister discovered he hid the victim inside his room and had unlawful camal knowledge of her before releasing her to the complainant.
The matter was reported to the Police at the Gender Section of the State Police Command. The suspect was arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Paul Ugorji, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.M. Ajayi, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center 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.