MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 40-year old man, Banji Omoniyi, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly tricking a 15-year old girl into sex after fondling her breasts, she became confused and he penetrated her.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 27th September, 2024, at Comfort Dada Street, Agric Road, Egan area of Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the suspect lured the victim into his apartment, engaged her in sex after he used words of mouth to hold her, fondled her breasts, which made her become more confused and unable to resist him.
Having satisfied himself, he allowed her to go but by then the victim regained her senses and raised alarm that she had been raped.
The matter was reported to the Police at Igando Division. The Police moved into action, arrested the suspect and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
During interrogation, he denied raping her while claiming that he did so with her consent. But the victim denied it and claimed that he lured her into it without her consent.
The Police found him culpable because the victim is still a minor and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charge read:
“That you, Banji Omoniyi, on the 27th September, 2024, about 1400hrs at Comfort Dada Street, Agric Road Egan, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did defile the victim and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Crinna Law of Lagos State of Nigena 2015.”
The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, pending when the DPP’s report will be ready and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.
The matter was adjourned till 11th November, 2024, for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.