KINGSLEY EBERE
A 40-year old man, Iyapade Ibiororo, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State over sex with his neighbour’s 12-year old girl.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Sule Dada Street, Iba area of Lagos, where they reside.
The Police alleged that the suspect lured the girl into his apartment and forcefully engaged her in sex before the information leaked. The girl was confronted and she revealed what happened to her parents.
The matter was reported to the Police in the area and the suspect, Ibiororo, was arrested and later transferred to the Gender Section of the State Police Command for further investigation over his alleged conduct.
During the interrogation, the suspect insisted that he did not force the girl and he had her consent before he penetrated her, as such it was not statutory rape as claimed by the complainant.
However, the Police found him culpable for the alleged offence and subsequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court under Section 137 of the Criminal code.
The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice since the alleged offence was capital offence
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 mention for the DPP’s report to be made available while the defendant was remanded in custody pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.