A 40-year old man, Abdulai Lawal, has been arrested and charged before the Ikorodu Magistrate Court, Lagos State, for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s 3-year daughter by forcefully penetrating her private part.
The incident happened on 25th July, 2023, at Agric area of Ikorodu, Lagos, where they reside.
He has been remanded in custody at Kirikiri Correctional Centre having been charged before the Court for defilement under the Criminal Law of the State.
The Prosecutor, Olawunmi Osinbajo, told the Court that the defendant, Lawal, took advantage of the little girl while she was playing in the sand outside her house.
He reportedly lured her into his room, and sexually assaulted her by penetration.
The prosecutor, Osinbajo, further stated that when the child’s mother noticed her daughter was missing and began frantically calling out for her, the girl emerged from Lawal’s room with bloodstains on her clothes and leg.
The mother then raised alarm and reported the incident to the Police. He was then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Court under the Criminal Laws 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.
Hence, the Presiding Chief Magistrate, A.B. Olagbegi-Adelabu, ordered the defendant to be remanded in custody 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 14th September, 2023, 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.