An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos State has commenced the trial of a man, Uchenna Edom, who allegedly defiled his 10-year old cousin with the Court denying him bail.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Presiding Judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his ruling, held that though the case against the defendant had not been proven, it was weighty and consequently denied him bail.
The defendant, Uchenna Edom, was charged before the Court for allegedly defiling the victim on July, 2022, by having sexual intercourse with her at Isolo area of Lagos and was caught.
Edom was then arrested and and charged before the Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The defence counsel, Mr A.O. Afuye, in his bail application dated 11th November, 2023 and filed the same day, urged the Court to grant the defendant bail, in the interest of justice.
In his 16 paragraph affidavit, Afuye prayed the Court that the defendant be granted bail pending the determination of the case.
“The defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty. The defendant, in the bail application, has promised to make himself available for trial and will not interfere with course of justice though the alleged survivor is his cousin ,”he said.
But the State Counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, in her 13 paragraph counter-affidavit dated 20th November, 2023 and filed the same day, stated that bail was at the discretion of the Court.
Okeowo argued that the defendant had not stated any cogent reason for which he should be granted bail.
“We urge the Court to refuse the bail application of the defendant so that he does not interfere with the prosecution witnesses,” she said.
Okeowo had earlier told the Court that the prosecution intended to call four witnesses in the case and submitted that the alleged offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, which attracts life imprisonment, if found guilty.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his ruling, held that though the case against the defendant had not been proven, it was weighty.
“I am not also satisfied that he will make himself available for trial.
In the interest of justice on the part of the defendant, I hereby order an accelerated hearing and his bail application is hereby denied, ” he said.
The Court then adjourned the matter till 12th February, 2024, for trial.