By Oluwatosin Maliki
The Magistrate Court sitting at Ebute Metta has remanded Jegede Folorunsho (54), at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old girl in the Mushin, Lagos State.
The case was presided over by Magistrate O.M. Ajayi at the Magistrate Court in the Ebute Metta. Afterwards, the police presented a remand application against Folorunsho (the accused), seeking that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, while requesting the court to permit them to duplicate and send the case file to the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
Furthermore, the police prosecutor, Paul Ugorji, explained to the court that Folorunsho allegedly raped the victim at No 4 Adegbite Lane, Mushin, Lagos on October 4, 2023.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant was apprehended by the Mushin Police Division following complaints by the victim, hence, the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for discreet investigation.
Ugorji cited that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.
During the court proceeding, the police presented before the court a confessional statement written by the defendant.
The charge accompanied by the 12-paragraph remand application read, “That you, Jegede Folorunsho, on October 4, 2023, at No 4 Adegbite Lane, Mushin Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did defile one girl (name withheld), a minor of eight years, by having carnal knowledge of her and thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
Although, after the remand application was read, the defendant’s plea was not taken.
Consequently, the magistrate granted the request of the police and ordered that the defendant to be remanded to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
Additionally, she also ordered that the case file to be sent to the DPP for legal advice.
The Magistrate, then, adjourned the case till December 15, 2023, for the DPP’s advice.
