MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 45-year-old man, Samuel Kojo, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court on Friday over allegations of defiling a 17-year-old minor.
The Commissioner of Police alleged that the defendant allegedly defiled the minor. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
Section 137 of the Lagos Criminal Law prescribes life imprisonment for anyone convicted for defiling a minor. The law makes no provision for an option of fine.
The charge was filed through the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP Office, Ogba, Lagos State Ministry of Justice. The document was approved and signed by ACP Oluwatoyin Kazeem of the Gender Section, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.
The Investigating Police Officer listed on the charge sheet was CPL David Sunday of the Gender Section. The Gender Section handles sexual and gender-based violence cases in Lagos.
The court did not take his plea after the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asked the court to refer the case to the DPP for legal advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, ordered his remand in custody at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for advice.
The matter was adjourned for mention pending the DPP’s advice, which will determine if the case will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
Legal experts say defilement cases in Lagos are prosecuted under the VAPP Act and Criminal Law to protect minors. The identity of the 17-year-old has been withheld in line with Section 31 of the VAPP Act 2015 to protect privacy. All parties are presumed innocent until the court delivers judgment.
