Teacher, 53, Arraigned For Impregnating Student, 16, Inside School Premises
MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 53-year old teacher, Humphrey Joseph, has landed in trouble in Lagos State after he engaged a 16-year old student in sex inside the school premises and impregnated her in the process.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the teacher has been arrested and charged for statutory rape under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The incident happened at Baptist Senior Secondary School, Ile-Epo, Lagos.
Trouble started after the victim became pregnant, her parents asked to know who was behind it and she mentioned the teacher. The matter was reported to the Police at Isokoko Division in Agege area of Lagos. The teacher was arrested and transferred to the Gender Section of the Command for interrogation.
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 charges read:
COUNT 1:- That you, Humphrey Joseph ‘m’ sometimes in December, 2024 at Lagos State Baptist Senior Secondary School Ile-Epo Lagos (LABASCO), in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did unlawfully had sexual Intercourse with the victim ‘f age 16 years old, being a minor and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT 2:-“That you, Humphrey Joseph, ‘m’ same date time and place in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did unlawfully and indecently penetrate sexually the vagina of the victim ‘f age 16 years old, being a minor without her consent and put her in a family way and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 216 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
The Court did not take his plea following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the case.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O. Tanimola, 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 for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned 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.
