MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 37-year old man, Olalekan Ayofe, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly engaging a 16-year old girl in sex by seriously beating her to submission.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Oduduwa Street, Mushin area of Lagos, where they reside.
The suspect, Ayofe, has been charged before the Yaba Magistrate Court for assault and statutory rape, which attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.
According to the Police, Ayofe allegedly lured the victim into her apartment, demanded for sex but she refused. She attempted to leave the house before he held her and beat her seriously to submission.
Having satisfied himself, he allowed her to go and warned her not to tell anyone what happened between them. However, the victim informed her parents about what happened and the matter was reported to the Police at Area D Command, Mushin, Lagos. He was then arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Court for the alleged offence.
However, the Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Thomas Nurudeen, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. P.E. Nwaka, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional centre 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 for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be ready, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.