MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 60-year old School Director, Benson Monanu, has landed in trouble in Lagos State after a 12-year old student exposed him by informing her parents that he has been tempering with her private part with fingers in the school premises.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Mr. Monanu, has been arrested for statutory rape via finger penetration.
The incident happened at Pann Villa Estate, Abijah area of Ibeji Lekki, Lagos, where the school is located.
According to Police sources, the suspect, who is in charge of the school, was alleged to usually invite the victim to his office, pull her pants and insert his fingers into her private part in order to satisfy his sexual desire.
The student told both her parents and the Police that the suspect had done it several times and warned her not to tell anyone including her parents about his conduct.
However, when she was unable to bear it, she was said to have informed her parents and the matter was reported to the Police. The Police then arrested the suspect and detained him at SCID, Yaba, for interrogation over the alleged conduct.
During interrogation, the school director denied penetrating her with his dick but claimed he had checked her private part without any intention to defile her. He however, did not state what he was looking for inside her private part on the several occasions as claimed by the victim.
The Police found him culpable and subsequently charged before the Yaba Magistrates Court for statutory rape.
When he was arraigned, the Court did not take his plea following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Thomas Nurudeen, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice since the victim is still a minor.
Thus, 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 the DPP’s advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
However, the matter may likely be transferred to the High Court for trial if the DPP finds him culpable and recommends his trial before the Court.