MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 57-year old man, Victor Ezenwata, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly inserting his finger into the private part of a 12-year old girl.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Ezenwata, has been arrested and charged for statutory rape by finger penetration.
The incident happened at Majek Idiagbon Alayanda Street, Lagos, where they reside.
The suspect was alleged to have lured the girl into his apartment, forcefully removed her pants and inserted his finger into her private part without her consent, which prompted her to raise alarm that attracted other neighbours including her parents.
The matter was reported to the Police in the area and Ezenwata was arrested. He later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department at Yaba, Lagos, for further interrogation over his conduct.
While being interrogated, he reportedly denied that he sexually assaulted her but admitted to have touched her body when they were playing and he never penetrated her with his dick.
However, the Police found him culpable based on the evidence and was subsequently charged before the Yaba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment if he is tried and found guilty before the Court.
When he was arraigned, the Court did not take his plea after the prosecutor, Supol Thomas Nurudeen, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice because of the nature of the case.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. P.E. Nwaka, 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 pending the outcome of DPP’s advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
The matter may likely be transferred to the High Court for trial if the DPP’s report finds him culpable and recommends his trial for the alleged offence.