MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 35-year old man, Idowu Shoyede, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly fondling his neighbour’s 16-year old daughter’s breasts and defiling her in the process.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Oredola Street, Iju Ishaga area of Lagos, where they reside.
The Police alleged that the suspect lured the victim into his apartment, fondled her breasts, used words of mouth to confuse her until she was unable to resist him.
Having satisfied himself, he allowed her to go but by then the victim got back to her senses and reported what happened to her parents.
The matter was reported to the Police at Area G Command in Ogba and the suspect was arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to have slept with her but with her consent and as such he did not rape her as claimed by the victim.
However, the Police found him culpable for the alleged offence because the victim is still a minor under the law and he was subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
However, the Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubenije, ordered his remand in the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.
The matter was adjourned till 16th January, 2024, for the report of the DPP’s advice to be made available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
The defendant risks several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment if he is tried and found guilty before the Court because the alleged offence under the Criminal code specified sentence to life imprisonment.