A 19-year-old man has been arraigned at the Apapa Magistrate’s Court for unlawfully having a carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl, Jibola (pseudonym), who rather said the affair was mutually consented.
The suspect identified as Abib Muftau, was said to have once booked a room in a hotel located at the Omotolu Street, Amukoko, Lagos State where he reportedly raped the girl.
Jibola made the disclosure to police operatives after the 19-year-old Muftau, who had been dating her since 2014 was arraigned for unlawfully having a carnal knowledge of her.
The suspect was also accused of conniving with one other person who is yet to be nabbed, around 7pm on Saturday, May 2, 2015 to detain the girl at his house located at Adejinyan Street of the same area where he subsequently had another round of sex with her.
The victim was said to have returned home late on the fateful day and was quizzed by her mother.
She opened up to her mum who was so enraged and filed a report of the incident at the Amukoko Police Station, leading to Muftau’s arrest, said a Punch report.
According to the police the suspect raped Jibola sometime in October and December, 2014, without anybody’s knowledge.
Muftau was said to have lured the minor into the sexual relationship with a promise that he would marry her.
In her statement, Jibola said she and the suspect had been dating each other for eight months. She also stated that Muftau did not have sex with her under duress.
She said, “I know Abib (Muftau). He lives on Adejinyan Street, Amukoko. He started dating me last year September and since our relationship started, he had made love with me twice. The first time was in a hotel on Omotolu Street, Amukoko. It was one hour he booked for and he paid N500. He only did it once.
“In October, 2014, he had sex with me again in his room when his mother, brothers and sisters were not around. On May 2, I was in the house when he came around evening and asked me to follow him to his house.”
Muftau was charged on three counts bordering on unlawful sexual intercourse and abduction, which according to the police, are punishable under sections 409, 267 and 258 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
The charges read in part, “That you, Abib Muftau, and one other at large on May 2, 2015, at about 7pm on Adejinyan Street, Amukoko, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit; abduction.
“That you, and one other person at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did abduct a 14-year-old girl from lawful protection of her parents without their consent and detained her with intent to have sexual intercourse with her.
“That you, sometime in October and December, 2014 at a hotel and at your residence on Adenjiyan Street did have sexual intercourse with Jibola with fraudulent representation that you want to marry her.”
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted to bail by the presiding magistrate, Mr. P.A. Adekomaya, in the sum of N10,000 with one surety in like sum.
Meanwhile, the case was adjourned till Thursday, May 28, 2015 .
