MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 45-year old married man, Shola Adewale, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s 10-year old daughter.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Anuoluwapo Street in Isheri, Idimu area of Lagos, where they reside.
The suspect was alleged to have lured the victim on three different occasions and took her to their backyard, where he penetrated her and warned her not to tell anyone about it.
However, he was exposed after one of their neighbours saw him and informed the victim’s mother, who confronted the victim and she confessed that the suspect, Adewale, had defiled her on three different occasions.
The matter was reported to the Police at Idimu Division and the suspect was arrested. He was later transferred to the Gender Section of the Police Police Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubenije, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town,, 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 27th February, 2024, 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.