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.