A 16-year-old man identified as Azeez Ganiyu, has raped a two-year-old toddler identified as Precious (pseudonym) after she kidnapped her from her home located at Giwa Street, Ijora Badia, Lagos State.
On the fateful day, Thursday, April 16, 2015 the toddler’s mother went out to buy food at a nearby shop leaving the baby in the care of her neighbour.
At about 10 am, the toddler walked out to play with other children in the compound when Ganiyu kidnapped her and took her to an uncompleted building, few kilometers away from the house where he subsequently had a carnal knowledge her.
According to Punch, Precious’ mother and neighbours were thrown into confusion when they did not see the girl in the surroundings and engaged in a fruitless search to locate her.
Minutes later, the victim’s mother reportedly heard a baby screaming and traced the voice to the uncompleted building, where she allegedly caught Ganiyu in the act.
The toddler was thereafter taken to a hospital in the area where she underwent some tests which confirmed that she had actually been raped.
Police operatives at the Ijora Badia Police Division arrested the suspect and dragged him before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court where he was charged on one count of rape.
The charge read, “That you, Azeez Abdulganiyu (16), on April 16, 2015, at about 10am on Giwa Street, Ijora Badia, Lagos in the Apapa Magisterial District, did unlawfully have carnal knowledge of a two-year-old girl.”
The police prosecutor, Inspector Olusoji Ojaokomo, stated that the offence breached the dictates of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Ganiyu however, pleaded not guilty before the presiding magistrate, Mr. P.A. Adekomaya.
Adekomaya directed that his case file be transferred to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The defendant was later granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed and must show evidence of tax payment to the court.
Adekomaya further adjourned the case for further hearing till Tuesday, May 5, 2015.
