A 27-year-old unemployed man, Larry Atipko, on Tuesday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly defiling eight-year-old daughter of his co-tenant.
A resident of No. 1, Tunji Adesayo St., Fagba in Iju area of Lagos, Atipko is facing a charge of child rape.
Prosecutor Rita Momah said the accused committed the offence on Sept. 27 at his residence.
Insp. Momah told the court that the accused, who lives in the same house with the mother of the minor, allegedly lured the child to his room and had a canal knowledge of her.
“The accused, who is a friend of the family, had on several occasions had canal knowledge of the eight-year-old.’’
The offence violates Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes life imprisonment for offenders.
Atipko, however, pleaded not guilty.
In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs F.A. Adeeyo, ordered that the case file should be forwarded to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
She granted the accused bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to Nov. 25 for the DPP’s advice.
