Court remands man for allegedly raping minor

The Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja on Wednesday remanded a middle-aged man, Godwin Uzodinma, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl.

Mr Uzodinma, was arraigned on two counts of sexual assault by penetration and defilement, preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The judge, Rahman Oshodi, granted him bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

Mr Oshodi ordered that the two sureties should be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years tax payment to the state.

He said the addresses of the sureties should be verified by the court registrar and the defendant should submit his passport to the court.

According to him, the charge against the defendant is a severe one and he may possibly be absent in court to face trial.

The judge thereafter remanded Mr Uzodinma pending the fulfillment of his bail condition and adjourned the case until 19 February 2025 for commencement of trial.

The Lagos State counsel, Bukola Okeowo, had earlier told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in 2017 and 2019, on Shogunle Street, Ikeja.

Ms Okeowo submitted that the defendant allegedly defiled the minor, by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

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She said that the defendant inserted his organ into the minor’s anus.

According to her, the offences violate Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sections 137 and 261 attract life imprisonment respectively, if found guilty.

(NAN)