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A Chief magistrates’ court, Ogba, Lagos have remanded a 25-year-old man, Dankolo Timi in a correctional centre for allegedly r*ping a 14-year-old girl in the Ajegunle area of the state.
The police had arraigned the suspect for allegedly defiling the girl and then robbed her of the sum of N10,000, given to her by her parents.
The accused was charged with defilement and stealing and if found guilty may serve a minimum of 14-year jail term under the Lagos State law on defilement.
The prosecutor, Bisi Ogunleye, told the court that the accused took advantage of the relationship he has as a neighbour and lured the girl into his room where he had carnal knowledge of the girl.
“My Lord, as if that was not enough, the accused, took away the sum of N10,000 given to the girl by her parents. Pained by the actions of the accused, the girl went home and narrated what happened to her parents, who then reported the matter to the police in the area.
My Lord, consequently, the accused was arrested and detained by the police in Ajegunle. The accused was later transferred to the Gender Section of the Police Command for interrogation.
During interrogation, he admitted to having slept with the girl with her consent, an allegation which the girl denied,” the prosecutor told the court
However, the court did not take his plea after the prosecutor, Supol Bisi Ogunleye, asked the court to refer the matter to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubeinje, ordered the remand of the accused pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice.
The matter was adjourned till April 5, 2022, for the report of the DPP.