An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Thursday remanded a 33-year-old security guard, Paul Audu, who allegedly defiled his friend’s eight-year-old daughter.
The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, ordered that Audu would spend the next 73 days in prison pending legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The court did not take the plea of the accused as the magistrate said she needed the DPP’s advice.
Audu, who resides on Adegun Street, Ikorodu, Lagos is standing trial on a two-count charge of child defilement and sexual assault.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Lucky Ihiehie, urged the court to remand the accused.
Ihiehie told the court that the accused committed the offences between September 2018 and December 2018 on Adeyemi Street, Ikosi in Ketu area of Lagos State.
He said that the father of the minor (name withheld) reported the case at a police station.
He submitted that the accused inserted his finger in the girl’s private part many times and later had sexual intercourse with her.
According to the prosecutor, the minor wrote a letter to her father, explaining her ordeal in the hands of the accused.
Ihiehie said that the complainant, a widower, allowed Audu to stay with his family, whenever he was off duty, to help him to take care of the daughter.
He quoted the minor as saying: “I always feel pain, but didn’t tell my daddy because I thought he won’t believe me.
“Whenever the accused sleeps with me, he always gives me N500 so that I won’t tell my daddy.”
Ihiehie said that the offences contravened Sections 137 and 265 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The case was adjourned until March. 27 for mention.