The police in Lagos on Wednesday arraigned a father of three, Victor Anike, 40, for allegedly defiling an eight-year old girl.
The accused, residing at No. 3, Adesina St., Egbeda Akwonjo in Lagos State, is facing a charge of child-rape before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The Prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused committed the offence at his residence on April 10 at 1.06 p.m.
Anyanwu said the accused took advantage of the eight-year old daughter of his co-tenant who strayed into his room.
“The accused inserted one of his fingers into the minor’s private part and attempted to forcefully have a carnal knowledge of her.
“This caused her severe injuries’’, Anyanwu said.
The prosecutor said 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 forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
She granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sums.
Soladoye adjourned the case to June 1 for hearing.
