The police in Lagos State have arrested a
32-year-old gardener, Abeng Oji, for allegedly raping his boss’ daughter,
Temitope (pseudonym), six years, inside a bathroom.
It was learnt that the suspect lived with the victim’s
family in Ologolo Community in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos.
Punch Newspaper reports that the victim’s parents
had gone for a church vigil on January 30, 2016, leaving her and the gardener
at home.
Around 6am the next day when the couple had yet to
come back, Oji reportedly entered Temitope’s room under false pretences that he
wanted to charge his mobile phone.
It was gathered that he initiated a chat with the
kid and started making advances to her, which she resisted.
It was learnt that the suspect overpowered her and
dragged her into a bathroom in the apartment, where he allegedly had sex with her.
He was said to have warned her against revealing the
act to the parents, threatening that she would face dire consequences if she did.
However, trouble started when Temitope reportedly
yelled and complained of pains as her mother touched her private parts while
she was bathing her.
After prodding, she was said to have divulged the
secret to her mother. The case was reported at the Ilasan Police Division,
leading to Oji’s arrest.
The suspect was also learning horticulture at
Temitope’s father’s firm.
He was subsequently arraigned on one count of rape
on Wednesday before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court by a police prosecutor, Inspector
Azu Feddy.
The charge read, “That you, Abeng Oji, on January
30, 2016, at about 6am at Ologolo Community, in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area,
within Lagos Magisterial District, did have an unlawful carnal knowledge of one
(name witheld) aged six, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section
137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge before
the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O.A.
Ogunbowale, and was admitted to bail in the sum of
N5m with two sureties in like sum.
Ogunbowale also requested the sureties to present a
certificate of occupancy, evidence of tax payments made to Lagos State and
their residential addresses to the court for verification.
Adjourning till April 13, 2016, the magistrate instructed
that the case file should be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for
legal advice while the defendant be kept in prison custody pending the
perfection of his bail.
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