LAGOS - The police have arrested a factory worker,
Matthew Edide, for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl. The incident
happened on Adeleye Street, Ojo, Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the 24-year-old Delta
State indigene had sent the victim on an errand around 7.30pm on the day of the
incident. Upon her return, he allegedly forced her into his room and had unlawful
carnal knowledge of her.
Our correspondent gathered that after satisfying
his urge, the suspect threatened to kill his victim if she told anyone about
what transpired between them.
However, on the second day, the seven-year-old was
said to have been noticed bleeding in the school, which got the attention of
the school authorities.
Her father, who was away at work, was said to have
been alerted by the school management. He reportedly took her home and called a
family nurse who made the pupil opened up.
The suspect was arrested and subsequently arraigned
on Tuesday before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on one count of rape.
The charge reads, “That you, Matthew Edide, on June
27, 2014, at about 7.30pm at Adeleye Street, Ojo, Lagos in the Lagos
Magisterial District, did have sexual intercourse with one (name withheld),
aged seven years.”
The police prosecutor, DSP Etim Nkankuk, said the
offence was punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State,
Nigeria, 2011.
The defendant said he was not guilty and elected
summary trial.
His defence counsel, Ali Abba, applied for his bail
in liberal terms, saying Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution presumed the
suspect innocent until proven otherwise. The police prosecutor announced the
presence of the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Monday Ebuzome, of the
Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, and the father of the victim.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A.A. Demi-Ajayi,
admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two responsible
sureties in like sum. She added, “The sureties must be gainfully employed and
resident in Lagos; must be at least 40 years of age; one of them must be a
blood relation of the defendant. Each of the sureties must deposit the sum of
N50, 000 into the designable account of the Chief Registrar of the state’s High
Court. They must prove substantially their address identity and means of
livelihood. They should also present a sworn affidavit of means and their
addresses should be verified by the police.”
The case was adjourned till September 24, 2014 for
legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Source: Punch
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