KINGSLEY EBERE
A 38-year old man, Samuel Opara, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly engaging his neighbour’s 13-year old girl in sex in a hotel.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Samuel, has been arrested and charged for statutory rape.
The incident happened in a hotel at Egbeda area of Lagos, where they reside.
The suspect, Samuel, was alleged to have lured the girl to the hotel, confused and engaged her in the act. And having satisfied himself, he allowed her to go.
However, the information leaked and the girl’s parents confronted her. She then revealed what happened and how Samuel lured her to the hotel and forced her into the act.
The matter was reported to the Police in the area and he was arrested. Samuel was later transferred to the Gender Section of the State Command for interrogation over the alleged offence.
During interrogation, he admitted to have engaged her in sex but claimed that it was with her consent. But the girl denied that and insisted that he forced her into the act.
The Police found him culpable because the victim is still a minor and subsequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for unlawfully having sex with her without her consent.
However, when he was arraigned, the Court did not take his plea following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Layinka, 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 the report of DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
The matter may likely be transferred to the High Court for trial if the DPP’s report finds him culpable and recommends his trial for the alleged offence.