Man, 44, Docked For Tampering With Girl, 11, Private Part

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 44-year old man, Frank Akpan, has landed in prison in Lagos after he lured his neighbour’s 11-year old girl and allegedly inserted finger into her private part.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Decker Close, Abule Taylor area of Ijayi Ojokoro of Lagos, where they reside.

The Police alleged that the suspect, Akpan, reportedly lured the victim, removed her pant, inserted his finger into her private part to his satisfaction before he allowed her to go and warned her never to tell anyone what happened.
However, the victim went home and informed her parents how Akpan molested her when they were not around.
The matter was reported to the Ojokoro Police Division and Akpan was arrested. He later transferred to the Gender Section of the Police Command for investigation.
During interrogation, he reportedly denied that he raped her but admitted that he only inserted his finger into her private part and allowed her to go.

The Police found him culpable and charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for statutory rape which attracts several years imprisonment if he is tried and found guilty before the Court.
However, the prosecutor, Inspector Christopher John, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice because the victim was a minor.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. P.E Nwaka, ordered the defendant, Akpan, to be remanded in prison custody without an option of bail.
The Court also directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send to the DPP for advice and adjourned the case till 23rd September, 2019, for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the matter may be transferred to the High Court if the DPP finds him culpable and recommends that he should be tried for defilement.