MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 42-year old man, Palo Paul, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s 12-year old daughter by forcefully engaging her in sex.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 13th May, 2024, inside Bonny camp area of Victoria Island, Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the suspect lured the victim to the place and forcefully engaged her in sex after he had overpowered and penetrated her in the process.
Having satisfied himself, he allowed her to go. The victim went home and told her parents about what happened and the matter was reported to the Police at Bar Beach Division.
Thus, the suspect was arrested and transferred to the Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command for interrogation over the alleged assault on the victim.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
However, the Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned after the prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice due to the nature of the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Ex. Kubenije, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, 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 till 26th June, 2024, for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be ready, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.