A primary school teacher, Abdukadiri Olaitan, on Tuesday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, charged with defilement of an eight-year-old girl.
Olaitan, 23, who resides at 1, Ajisegiri Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, is standing trial on a charge of having unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor.
The Prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 19, 2013 at his residence.
Anyanwu said that the accused, who teaches at the New Horizon Islamic School, Okearin, Ilupeju, Lagos, took advantage of his eight-year-old pupil and had sexual intercourse with her.
“He capitalised on her lack of good guardianship and exploited her,” the prosecutor said.
Anyanwu said that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
However, the accused denied the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Yewande Aje-Afunwa, said that though the offence attracted life imprisonment, the accused would be admitted to bail.
Aje-Afunwa said: “The offence is a serious one and attracts life imprisonment.
“It is, however, bailable, but the conditions will be stringent.
“The defendant is hereby admitted to a bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
“The sureties must own residential property in Lagos State and one must be a recognised community or religious leader while the other must be a blood relation of the defendant.”
The chief magistrate added that the sureties must both show evidence of tax payment and gainful employment.
Aje-Afunwa adjourned the case to May 12 for further hearing.
Also on Tuesday, five unemployed youths who allegedly defiled a 13-year-old girl were charged before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused, John Tochukwu, 20; Ikechukwu Okechukwu, 24; Freeman Ogbonna, 20; Emmanuel Robert, 22; and Ifeanyi Eze, 22, reside in Ashogun village, Satellite Town, Lagos.
The suspects were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, administering drugs to incapacitate a victim, defilement and abduction with intent to have sexual intercourse.
The prosecutor, SP Soji Ojaokomo, said the accused conspired and unlawfully had carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl without her consent.
Ojaokomo said: “They drugged her and took turns to have carnal knowledge of her at the back of their house.
“The accused were caught by neighbours who reported the incident to the police.”
Ojaokomo told the court that the girl was unconscious after they raped her, adding that she was immediately rushed to a hospital by neighbours for medical care.
He said the accused committed the offences on March 12 at the same address, adding that the offences contravened Sections 137, 141, 237 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Section 237 stipulates life imprisonment for incapacitating in order to commit felony, while Section 409 prescribes two years jail term for conspiracy.
In the same vein, Section 137 stipulates life imprisonment for any person who had sexual intercourse with a child.
The Chief Magistrate, Oluyemisi Adelaja, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case until May 12 for mention.
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