A 52-year-old man, Ibraheem Surajudeen Bamidele, was on Monday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba over allegations of defilement of a minor in the Oko-Oba area of Lagos State.
The defendant, Bamidele, was brought before the court by the Commissioner of Police on a one-count charge bordering on sexual offence against a child.
According to the charge sheet filed under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, the alleged incident was said to have occurred between December 22, 2025 and May 2026 at a residential property in the area.
The prosecution alleged that the offence took place at a property on Agbe Road, Oko-Oba, within the Lagos Magisterial District, during the period stated in the charge.
The charge stated that the defendant allegedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. The offence is said to be punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
Section 137 of the Lagos State Criminal Law makes it an offence for any person to have sexual intercourse with a child. The law provides for life imprisonment upon conviction and is part of efforts to protect children from abuse.
The charge sheet was signed by CSP Omolola Odutola of the Nigeria Police Force. The Investigating Police Officer listed was listed as W/Inspr. Raimi Idowu of the Gender Section, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja. The Gender Section handles cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the state.
However, the Court did not take his plea after the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice and possible prosecution.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O. Tanimola, ordered his remand in a Correctional Center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice. She also directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward it to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
The matter was adjourned for mention to enable the court receive the report of the DPP’s advice, which will determine whether the case will remain at the Magistrate Court or be transferred to a High Court.
Legal experts note that matters involving minors are usually given accelerated attention by the courts to ensure justice and to safeguard the rights and welfare of the child involved.
Authorities have reiterated that sexual offences against children attract strict punishment under Lagos State law. The Lagos State Government and the Police have continued to campaign against child abuse. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. The matter is expected to come up for further hearing on a date to be announced by the court.