NAN – A 39-year-old trader, Anayo Ibe, who allegedly had an unlawful carnal knowledge of an 11-year-old girl, was on Thursday, April 9, 2015 in Lagos docked at a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused, a resident of No. 11, Anuoluwapo St., Shomolu in Lagos State, is standing trial on a charge of child rape.
The prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Monday, November 17, 2014 at about 5.30 p.m. at the accused’s residence.
He said that the accused, who was living in the same building with the parents of the victim, lured his victim into his room under the pretext of sending her on an errand.
The prosecutor said that when the victim entered the accused’s apartment, the accused forcefully had a carnal knowledge of her.
He said that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 137 prescribes imprisonment for life for any person who has sexual intercourse with a child.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The chief magistrate, Mrs A.O. Soladoye, ordered that the case file be duplicated and be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs) for legal advice.
Soladoye granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case till May 18, for mention.
