A 32-year-old newly married man, Francis Azukwo has been
arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly defiling a six-year-old girl,
Ngozi, in the Ikotun area of the state.
He allegedly
penetrated the victim’s private parts and anus during the sexual assault which
occurred on Owoodu Street, Ijegun. Azukwo and the victim’s mother were
neighbours and had been living together in the house for some time.
Ngozi’s mother, Joy, who was pregnant at the time, was said
to have been rushed to a hospital in the community where she was delivered of
twins. She returned home, she reportedly observed that her daughter’s movement
was altered and she checked her private parts.
She reportedly queried the girl on seeing bruises. Ngozi was
alleged to have accused Azukwo of defiling her. The matter was subsequently
reported to the police at the Ikotun division and the Akwa Ibom State indigene
was arrested.
Subsequently, Ngozi
was taken to Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja,
where tests were conducted on her. The results showed that there was
penetration and her hymen was broken.
Joy said she could not tell the motive for the alleged
assault, adding that she did not know much about Azukwo.
“I did not challenge him. I just went to report to the
police. He denied the allegation, but my daughter kept pointing at him that he
was responsible,” she added.
The suspect was arraigned before an Ogba Magistrate’s Court
on Wednesday. He was arraigned on two counts of defilement and indecent
assault.
The charges read, “That you, Francis Azukwo, sometime in the
month of September 2017, at Ikotun, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did
unlawfully and indecently assault one Ngozi (not real name), thereby committing
an offence.
“That you, Francis Azukwo, on the same date, time and place,
in the aforesaid magisterial district, did defile one Ngozi, thereby committing
an offence.”
The police prosecutor, Inspector Clifford Ogu, said the
offences were punishable under sections 135 and 137 of the Criminal Law of
Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
The defendant pleaded not guilty and elected summary trial.
The defence counsel, Godwin Ohaekwe, appealed to the court
to grant the defendant bail in liberal terms.
Holding a watching brief for the Lagos State Office of the
Public Defender was Mrs. Ibukun Ibikunle, who represented the complainant.
The magistrate, Ojo, admitted the defendant to bail in the
sum of N400,000 with two sureties in like sum.
“One of the sureties must be a level 12 officer in the Lagos
State Civil Service and the other must be a registered property owner in Lagos
State. The sureties should present evidence of three years’ tax payments to the
state and their addresses must be verified,” she added.
The defence counsel, Ohaekwe, appealed against the condition
of the level 12 civil servant, saying the defendant hailed from Akwa Ibom State
and it might be difficult for him to meet such a condition.
The magistrate rejected the appeal and adjourned the case
till February 12, 2018 for advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
0 Comments