LAGOS (Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Courts) - A
seven-year-old girl has been infected with staph after she was sexually
assaulted by the pastor of an orthodox church, Sunday Akintayo.
The police arrested the 51-year-old cleric for
inserting his finger into the private parts of the victim and shaving her
eyebrows.
Our correspondent learnt that the assault had been
going on for a long time, but by the time it was detected, the victim had
contracted staph, a bacterial infection.
The mother of the victim was said to have noticed
sperm discharge from the vagina of the girl while bathing her. The girl was
said to have opened up to her after a lot of prodding. Akintayo was arraigned
before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on two counts of indecent
assault.
The charge reads in part, “That you, Sunday
Akintayo, on July 19, 2014 at Wuragbera Railway Line, Ilupeju, Mushin Lagos, in
the Lagos Magisterial District, did indecently assault one seven-year-old girl
by inserting your finger into her vagina. “That you did indecently assault a
minor by shaving her eyebrows.” The offence was said to be punishable under
sections 261 and 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and
elected summary trial.
The defence counsel, Ali Abba, asked the court to
grant bail to his client. He said, “We sympathise with the victim’s family on
what happened, but Section 36(6) of the 1999 Constitution is of the opinion
that unless the defendant is convicted, he is presumed innocent. Also, Section
115(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011,
outlines cases where bail cannot be granted; and, this is not one of them.”
The police prosecutor, Inspector U.A. Moses, urged
the court to remand the pastor, saying the victim was in a critical medical
condition.
Moses said, “The victim of the crime is a minor, a
seven-year-old girl, and she sustained injuries in the course of the crime. We
urge my Lord to look at the seriousness of this case. “We have a medical report
showing that the victim is already infected and is under intensive care. If the
defendant is granted bail, he could manipulate the prosecution witnesses. We
want the court to look at the prevalence of cases of paedophiles in the
society, which can lead to increase in cervical cancer.”
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A.A. Demi Ajayi
overruled the bail application of the defence counsel, saying he did not
address the facts of the case. She added, “In view of the prevalence of the
case, the defendant is to be remanded in prison pending legal advice from the
Directorate of Public Prosecutions.”
The matter was adjourned till September 24, 2014
for legal advice.
Source: Punch
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