MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 72-year old man, Patrick Ukpebor, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly sexually assaulting and defiling his neighbour’s 6-year old daughter by penetration.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Amutu Street, Ilasamaja area of Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the victim’s mother asked her to go and collect a key from their neighbour. And while she was going, Pa Ukpebor lured her into his apartment, fondled her breasts and caroused her private part to seduce her.
He was alleged to have later penetrated her before he allowed her to go. Before then, her mother had started looking for her and when she came out crying, she informed her mother that Ukpebor had molested her by touching her breasts and private part.
The matter was reported to the Police in the area. He was arrested and transferred to the Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
During interrogation, the suspect initially denied the act. But when the victim narrated what happened, he was speechless and was unable to deny any longer.
The Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged defilement under the Criminal Laws of the State.
However, the Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Inspector John Iberedem, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubenije, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.
The matter was adjourned till 13th August, 2024 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.