CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 47-year old man, Martin Okoro, has landed in trouble in Lagos State after he allegedly lured and inserted his fingers into his neighbour’s 3-year old girl’s private part.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Okoro, has been arrested by Police operatives and may be charged for statutory rape.
The incident happened at Awori Street, opposite MTN Mast Igbo-Elerin, Iba area of Lagos, where they reside.
According to Police sources, the suspect, Okoro, lured the girl into his apartment, removed her pants and inserted his fingers into her private part severally before he eventually allowed her to go.
However, when the little girl went home, she revealed what happened to her mother, who confronted Okoro and he reportedly admitted to have done so but never penetrated her with his dick.
The matter was reported to the Police in the area and he was arrested. He was later transferred to the Gender Section of the Police Command for interrogation over the conduct.
After thorough interrogation by the Police, he was found culpable over the act.
He was subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for sexual assault on the girl, which is statutory rape and attracts several years of imprisonment if he is 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.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A Layinka, ordered his remand in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when the DPP’s report will be ready and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.
The matter was adjourned till 26th August, 2022, for mention for the availability of the report of the DPP, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.