A 29-year old man, Samuel Odeh, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly engaging his neighbour’s 14-year old girl int sex.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Odeh, has been arrested and charged for statutory rape under the Criminal Law of the State.
The incident happened on 14th March, 2025, at Araromi Red House, Ogombo Road, Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the suspect had on several occasions lured the victim into his apartment, engaged her in sex and warned her not to tell anyone about it.
However, the matter got exposed after the information leaked to the victim’s parents and the matter was reported to the Police at the SCID, Yaba. The operatives arrested and detained him for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable because the victim is still a minor. He was consequently charged before the Yaba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charge read:
“That you, SAMUEL ODEH ‘M’ on or before the 14th day of March, 2025, at Araromi Red House, Ogombo Road Lagos, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did knowingly at intervals, had sexual intercourse with the victim, aged 14 years, which caused her blunt penetration and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, the Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the Prosecutor, CSP Charles Akinrosoye ESQ, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.I.O. Alaka, 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.