CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 40-year-old man has been remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling two minors in the Aboru area of Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos State.
The defendant, Sunday Oluegbu, 40, was arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting at Ogba, Lagos, on a two-count charge bordering on defilement.
He was arraigned before Magistrate Mrs. M.O. Tanimola by the Commissioner of Police. The prosecution was led by ASP Lucky Ihehie.
According to the charge sheet, the incident allegedly occurred on the 21st day of September, 2026, at two different locations in the Alimosho area of Lagos.
The Police alleged that on the said date at about 2:00 pm, at Town Planning Way, Aboru, Iyana-Ipaja, and later at about 10:00 pm at Johnson Idowu Street, Hilltop Estate, Aboru, the defendant allegedly defiled a 13-year-old girl by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.
In Count Two, the prosecution alleged that on the same date at about 4:00 pm at Town Planning, Aboru, the defendant allegedly defiled a 14-year-old girl.
The offences, according to the Police, are punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015, which prescribes life imprisonment for defilement of a child.
The Police stated that the defendant allegedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with the two minors, who are said to be friends.
The case was reported to the Police at Oke-Odo Division by a concerned family member on behalf of the survivors, and was later transferred to the Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, for further investigation.
According to the affidavit in support of remand application deposed to by Inspector Eyo Glory of the Gender Section, the suspect was arrested and made a statement to the Police.
The Police officer stated in the affidavit that she is conversant with the facts and circumstances of the case and has the consent and authority of the Commissioner of Police to make the deposition.
She prayed the court to remand the suspect in custody for the alleged offence of defilement while the case file be duplicated and sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for legal advice.
When the matter came up for mention, the prosecution, ASP Lucky Ihehie, informed the court that the matter is an indictable offence and that the Magistrate Court lacks jurisdiction to try the case substantively, hence the need for DPP’s advice.
The prosecutor applied for the defendant to be remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice, which will determine the jurisdiction of the court to proceed.
Magistrate Mrs. M.O. Tanimola, after listening to the submissions, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri town, Lagos.
The Magistrate further directed that the case file be duplicated and a copy forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned pending the DPP’s advice.
The case was investigated by ACP Oluwatoyin Kazeem and IPO Inspector Eyo Glory of the Gender Section, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.
However, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.