he police have arraigned a 27-year-old
man, Tope Akintade, for impregnating a primary three pupil, Beatrice
(pseudonym), after he allegedly raped her.
Akintade and Beatrice, an orphan, are neighbours at a compound on Baale Street, Agboju, Kuje in the Amuwo area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the
13-year-old victim was outside washing plates in the afternoon, sometime
in November, when Akintade, who hails from the Idanre Local Government
Area, Ondo State, lured her to his room and forcefully had sex with her.
Our correspondent gathered that
Beatrice’s aunt, who preferred to be anonymous because of the nature of
the incident, had earlier warned the suspect to stay away from her niece
when she (the minor) complained that he was “playing rough play” with
her.
Our correspondent learnt that neither
the aunt nor other lodgers of the compound were around on the fateful
day to intervene in the act as Akintade reportedly coerced the minor
into three rounds of sexual romp.
It was gathered that the act, which the
minor had kept secret, became apparent when she began to exhibit some
symptoms usually shown by pregnant women.
She was said to have been taken to a hospital where a test conducted on her revealed that she was three months pregnant.
Akintade was eventually arrested by police officials attached to the Satellite Police Division and charged with rape.
the accused had confessed to the crime in a statement made to the police. A
prosecutor, Olusoji Ojaokomo, arraigned him before an Apapa Magistrate’s
Court on two counts of rape.
The charge read, “That you, Tope
Akintade, 27, on Baale Street, Agboju, Satellite Town, Kunje, Amuwo,
Lagos, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did defile one Beatrice by
having canal knowledge of her and thereby committed an offence
punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of
Nigeria, 2011.
“That you, Tope Akintade, did indecently
assault Beatrice by touching her private parts and thereby committed an
offence punishable under Section 134 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State
of Nigeria, 2011.”
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty
before the magistrate, Mrs. O.I. Adelaja, who admitted him to bail in
the sum of N50,000, with two sureties in like sum.
“The sureties must tender to the court evidence of tax payment and their residential addresses for verification,” she added.
She adjourned the case till March 23, 2015 for mention.
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