Lagos carpenter remanded for defiling nine-year-old girl
A Magistrate Court sitting in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos State has ordered the remand of a carpenter at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl in the Ipaja area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt from a statement by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency on Sunday that the suspect was arrested following an escalation of the matter by a popular comedienne known as Princess.
Princess had in a social media post alleged that a man raped a nine-year-old girl while urging her followers within the area to visit the scene to save the victim.
Lagos DSVA said that upon receipt of the incident, they contacted the police division in the area which swung into action, arrested the suspect and rescued the victim.
The statement read in part, “Upon receiving the report, the DSVA immediately escalated the case to the Divisional Police Officer at Ayobo Police Station.
“The survivor was rescued and placed in a safe shelter through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development and was referred for medical attention whilst the alleged perpetrator was arrested.
“The case was subsequently transferred to the Gender Desk for further investigation.”
The statement noted that following the arrest, the suspect was arraigned before Magistrate O. M. Ajayi but he pleaded not guilty after the counts were read to him.
Upon his not-guilty plea, Ajayi ordered that the suspect be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility pending the Director of Public Prosecutions’ advice.
“Furthermore, on February 7, 2025, the case was heard at the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court, Oyingbo, before Magistrate O.M. Ajayi.
“The charges were read out in court, and the alleged perpetrator pleaded not guilty. The magistrate ordered his remand at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility pending the Director of Public Prosecutions’ advice.
“The case has been adjourned to February 19, 2025.”
The statement concluded that the “DSVA remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that survivors receive the support and justice they deserve.”
