MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 27-year old man, Prince Bassey, has been arrested in Lagos State after he was allegedly caught engaging his neighbour’s 7-year old girl in sex.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Anthony Eze Street, off Community Road, Ago area of Lagos, where they reside.
The suspect, Bassey now risks spending several years in prison or being handed life imprisonment because of the charge for defilement, which attracts such penalty if tried and convicted before the Court.
According to Police sources, the suspect, Bassey, lured the girl to his apartment and engaged her in the act before the information leaked, the girl opened up and revealed what happened.
The matter was initially reported at Ago Police Division and he was arrested but later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos, for further investigation over the conduct.
During interrogation, the suspect was said to have initially denied until the girl testified before him how it all happened and he was said to have become speechless.
The Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Ebute Metta Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.
The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Paul, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice since the victim is still a minor in order to determine the jurisdiction.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.M. Ajayi, ordered his remand in 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 DPP for advice.
The matter was adjourned pending the outcome of the DPP’s report, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.