Man, 30, Rapes Girl, 20, With Down Syndrome, Negotiates For Marriage
CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 30-year old man, Dare Oyekola, has landed in a mess after allegedly engaged
his neighbour’s 20-year old girl with Down syndrome in sex and was caught in
Lagos.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Ogooluwa Close, Alakuko area of Lagos, where they reside.
It was gathered that the
suspect, Dare, took advantage of the condition of the victim as a result of
Down syndrome in order to rape her when her parents had gone to work. Following
suspicion, her parents set trap for him and eventually caught him in the act.
The dastardly act was reported to the Police and Dare was arrested. In the
course of interrogation, he reportedly told the Police and the victim’s parents
that he wanted to negotiate in order to get married to her.
However, the Police rebuffed him and charged him before the Ogba Magistrates
Court for defilement which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The Police alleged that Dare was seen by their neighbours to have been sneaking
into the victim’s apartment whenever her parents went to work in order to engage
her in sex to satisfy his desire. He did not know that information had gotten
to her parents, who observed that the victim had been abused severally.
When he was charged before the Court, his plea was not taken after the
prosecutor, Mr. Michael Unah, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP
because it was a case of defilement which was a felony and attracts serious
punishment if the defendant was found culpable.
However, the defendant through his female counsel objected to his remand in
prison custody and informed the Court that the defendant and the victim were
lovers and the defendant was ready and prepared to get married the victim.
However, the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. A.A. Fashola, ordered the defendant to
be remanded in prison custody and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file
and send to the DPP for advice.
The matter was adjourned till 25th March, 2020 for the report of the DPP to be available.
The residents, who heard about Dare’s submission, wondered how he would marry the victim with her condition and concluded that it was a ploy to avoid prosecution over the alleged offence.