An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos State, on Wednesday, remanded a teenager, Tosin Oloyede, for allegedly raping a five-year-old child during the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
Magistrate Mrs B. O. Osusanmi detained the defendant at the Special Correctional Facility for Boys in Oregon for legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
The prosecution, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Akeem Raji, informed the court that the incident occurred on February 25, 2023, adding that the 16-year-old defendant allegedly violated his neighbour’s daughter at about 2 pm in the Ikorodu region of the state.
Raji stated, ”Oloyede defiled the victim by having sexual contact with her.”
According to the prosecution, the act committed contravened Section 27 and is punished under Section 210 (8) of the Child Right Law of Lagos State 2015.
The defendant’s plea was not accepted since he was brought before the court on a remand motion.
When the issue was brought in court on Wednesday, the victim started to weep immediately once she saw the guy who raped her.
The investigative police officer, Inspector Esther Igbineweka, informed Magistrate Osusanmi that the suspect gave a confessional statement at the Igbogbo Police Station when the parents reported the case and he also made a confessional statement at the police headquarters in Ikeja.
Igbineweka stated, “The defendant acknowledged to us that he had carnal knowledge with the victim.”
However, before the open court, the suspect simply confessed that he touched the girl.
A lawyer, Abdulkareem Jagun, confirmed his attendance for the complainant and a lawyer also represented the defendant.
The father of the victim claimed on the day of the event, he and his wife went out to cast their ballot as it was election day.
He stated, “We went to cast our ballot on election day and when we returned, my son claimed he was playing football outside when the kid raped his sister.
“While he was playing the ball outdoors, he stated he noticed that he didn’t see his sister and went in search of her. He informed us that he apprehended the youngster who is my neighbour’s son when he went inside the home.
“My son also informed us that the parents of the guy asked him not to tell us when we returned but my son said how would he not tell us about such a thing that occurred to his sister.”
The case has been adjourned till April 12,
