MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 19-year old teacher,Tochukwu Akalogwu, of Hope Primary School, Badagry, Lagos State, has been arrested and charged for allegedly defiling a 5-year old pupil inside the school premises.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Akalogwu, was charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for defilement under the Criminal Laws of the State over his alleged conduct on the victim on 3rd April, 2024, at the school premises.
According to the Police , the suspect, who was an employee of the school, allegedly lured the victim while she was playing, took her to the back of the school and defiled her in the process.
However, the alleged dastardly act got exposed and the matter was reported to the Police at Morogbo Division and the suspect was arrested. He was later transferred to the Gender Section of the State Command for interrogation.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.
The Prosecutor, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, told the Court that Akalogwu, an employee of the school, allegedly defiled the minor in the school by forcefully having sexual intercourse with her and the alleged offence contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Court did not take his plea following a motion moved by the prosecutor 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. Kubeinje, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional centre 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 28th May, 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.