March 27, 2024

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a 43-year-old man, Oni Jelili, in Kirikiri Correctional Centre, for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl.

The police charged Jelili, who lives at 37, Ayedade St., Harmony Estate, Ifako Ijaye, Lagos with defilement.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, did not take the plea of Jelili for want of jurisdiction.

She adjourned the case until April 9 for legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, SP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that the offence was committed in February at Jelili’s residence.

Ajayi said that Jelili lives in the same compound with the victim’s parents.

The prosecutor said that the suspect conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by taking the girl into his room, had carnal knowledge of her and warned her not to tell anyone.

The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened the provisions of Section 137 and 264(1) (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 264 stipulates three years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of sexually harassing another. (NAN)