by Azubuike Azikiwe
A 29-year-old construction worker, Prince Isioma, has been arraigned by the Police before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl around Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos State.
The victim was reportedly staying in her sister, in the same compound with the defendant. He carried out the act when no one was around, and lured her into his room, where he forcefully had sex with her.
Isioma, who is father to 3-boys, was arraigned on a one count of rape and he pleaded not guilty to the charge and elected summary trial.
The charge reads, “That you, Prince Isioma, on or about July 3, 2014, at about 12.30pm, at 3, Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did have sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old minor and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”
His defence counsel, Melda Adebambo, urged the court to admit him to bail in liberal terms.
DSP Etim Nkankuk, the police prosecutor, told the court he was not objecting to bail since the offence was bailable by the state’s criminal code.
He said, “This trend is just becoming too rampant and it is high time something drastic is done about it.”
The Chief Magistrate, O.O. Olatunji expressed shock at the increasing number of rape cases in the state, saying, “This is sickening. Most of you probably do this because you don’t have kids that are females. It’s just unbelievable.”
He admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties, each in like sum and the matter was adjourned till 15 October.
Leave a reply