MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 43-year old man, Morris Elechi, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly luring his neighbour’s 13-year old girl into sex.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Elechi, has been arrested and charged for defilement, which attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.
The incident happened at Oluomo Street, Cement area of Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the suspect allegedly lured the victim to his apartment, got her confused by touching her breasts before he engaged her in the act and later allowed her to go having satisfied himself.
However, the victim later got back to her senses and informed her parents about what happened; how the suspect lured her into sex without her consent while they went to work.
The matter was reported to the Police in the area and the man was arrested. He was later transferred to the Gender Section of the Police Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found him culpable despite the fact that he claimed that he did so with the consent of the victim who is still a minor under the Criminal Laws of the State.
He was subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence having contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Code of the State.
The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice before the nature of the offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s legal advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.
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.