CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 42-year old man, Nnanna Elekwa, has been arrested in Lagos State for allegedly engaging his neighbour’s 7-year old daughter in a sexual act by inserting his finger into her private part.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Oladele Street, Ishaga area of Lagos State, where they reside.
His arraignment before the Ogba Magistrates Court followed after he was arrested by the Police operatives from Area G Command, Ogba, Lagos, after the girl revealed what happened to her parents and he was subsequently detained for interrogation.
During interrogation, the girl revealed that he lured her into his apartment, forcefully removed her pants and inserted his fingers into her private part, which caused bruises.
The medical report also confirmed that the girl’s private part was tempered with, and she alleged that it was the defendant that was behind it. Consequently, the Police found him culpable and then charged him before the Court accordingly for defilement, which attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment if he is tried and found guilty before the Court.
However, when he was arraigned, 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 advice since the victim is still a minor.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Layinka, ordered his remand in custody at Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for advice.
The matter was adjourned till 4th February, 2022, 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.