MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 42-year old man, Busari Sherif, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly luring his neighbour’s 8-year old girl and engaging her in sex before he was exposed by the victim.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Sherif, has been arrested and charged for defilement under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The incident happened at lyase Close, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the suspect lured the victim to his apartment, forcefully engaged her in sex and having satisfied himself, he allowed her to go and warned her not to tell anyone about it.
However, the victim informed her parents about what happened and the matter was reported to the Police in the area. He was then arrested and transferred to the Gender Section of the State Police Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charge read:
“That you, Busari Sherif ‘M’ sometime in 2024 at lyase Close, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did defile the victim ‘F’ 8 years old by forcefully having unlawful carnal knowledge of her and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, 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. M.O. Tanimola, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center 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 for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned 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.