Command Accuses 32-Year-Old Engineer Of Raping Pupil

The police in Lagos have arrested a building engineer, Tijani Lateef, 32, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old pupil (name withheld) in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim lived with her parents not far from the suspect’s residence on Church Close, Abule Egba.

She was said to have visited the Ogun State indigene in his house around 7pm on the fateful day as he celebrated his birthday, where she met a group of boys at the party.

It was learnt that upon her request, she was served an alcoholic drink.

The drink, identified as McDowells, was said to have intoxicated her and she lost consciousness in the process.

Our correspondent learnt that the suspect allegedly took advantage of her condition and raped her.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim’s father, Peter Adebayo, after he heard what happened to her daughter, barged into the suspect’s room and destroyed some of his property in fury.

The matter was reported at the Oke-Odo Police Division and the suspect was arrested for the offence.

A medical test conducted on the victim at the General Hospital, Ile Epo, where she was admitted for five days, confirmed a case of sexual assault.

The suspect was subsequently arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court on two counts of defilement.

The charge reads, “That you, Tijani Lateef, on October 26, 2014 at about 5.30pm, at Church Close, Abule Egba, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial Ditrict, did unlawfully cause a minor, aged 12 years, to engage in sexual activities with you without her consent.”

The police prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, said the offence was punishable under sections 263 and 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and elected summary trial.

His defence counsel asked the court to grant him bail in liberal terms.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Y.O. Aje-Afunwa, admitted him to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

She urged the police to duplicate the case file for legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The matter was adjourned for legal advice.

SOURCE: Punch

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