Court remands man, 38, over alleged defilement

A 38-year-old man, Akinwale Akinfolarin, who allegedly abducted and defiled a 17-year-old girl, was on Friday remanded in custody by an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Akinfolarin is standing trial on a three-count charge, bordering on abduction and defilement.

The plea of the defendant was not taken.

The Magistrate, Mr E. O. Ogunkanmi, however, remanded him at the Correctional Centre and ordered that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

“The plea of the defendant was not taken due to the nature of the offence.

“The defendant is at liberty to seek bail at the high court.

“The defendant is remanded in custody and the case is adjourned till March 23, for DPP’s legal advice,” Ogunkanmi said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Kenneth Asibor, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Jan. 9 and Jan. 17, at No. 54, Rasaq Okunila Ave., Ijegemo Road, Lagos.

He said that on Jan. 9, the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by sexually harassing a 17-year-old girl.

“However, on Jan. 17, the defendant abducted the said girl and kept her in his custody for a day without the consent of her parents.

“He defiled the girl by having sexual intercourse with her,’’ Asibor said.

According to him, the offence contravened sections 137, 141 (1) and 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Reports state that Section 137 provides life imprison as punishment for defilement, Section 141 provides two years imprison while Section 168 provides three months imprison or payment of a fine.