A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State on Thursday, April 6, 2023, remanded one John Taiwo to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl in New Makoko, in the Sabo area of the state.
The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate P. E. Nwaka on one count bothering on the sexual violation and assault on a minor.
The 20-year-old defendant was said to have lured the victim to his room where he defiled her.
The victim’s father (names withheld), in an interview with PUNCH Metro at the court premises, said, “John came to our house and asked her (the victim) to come and help him buy something and when she followed him to his house, he defiled her and warned her not to tell anyone.
“Being a child, she cried home and when her older sister asked her why she was crying, she confessed that John defiled her and that he said he should not tell anyone.”
He added that when confronted, the defendant did not utter a word.
The mother of the victim, in a separate interview, said, “I didn’t want it to get this far, I just thought he would be punished and then left to learn his lessons.
“Now, his parent does not care about where he is, they are busy going about their daily business.”
According to the prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, the defendant committed the crime on January 25, 2023, at No 11 Olaide Street, New Maloko, Sabo, Lagos State.
Nurudeen told the court that the offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The charge read, “That you, John Taiwo, on January 25, 2023, at No 11 Olaide Street, New Maloko, Sabo, Lagos in the Lagos State Magisterial District, knowingly and forcefully lured a nine-year-old where you had sexual intercourse/carnal knowledge of her without her consent and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015.”
However, the defendant’s plea was not taken.
The prosecutor prayed the court to remand the suspect to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
Granting the request, Nwaka remanded the defendant and adjourned the case till May 3, 2023.
