A Lagos magistrate court has ordered that two middle-aged men; Felix Omenihu, 46 and Rotimi Amodu, 39, be remanded in prison custody for raping a 5-year old girl on the same day.
The incident happened at No. 3 Vincent Street in Shomolu area of Lagos where they reside with the victim’s parents. The defendants were arrested and charged before the court for defilement and were remanded in prison pending an advice on the case from the office of the state DPP.
It was gathered that Felix on his return from work and his wife was not around in the evening, allegedly lured the 5-year old victim, defiled her. Thereafter Amodu who also came back from work on the same day allegedly lured her and also had carnal knowledge of her.
However, during the romp, the victim got injured in her private part and bled profusely. The parents noticed her condition and asked her what had happened; she mentioned the suspects that did it to her when they were not around.
The matter was reported to the police in the area and the suspects were arrested and detained at the station. The matter was later transferred to the Gender Section of the Police Command for further investigation. The suspects denied the allegations but the 5-year old victim was brought before them and she revealed how it all happened.
The police found them culpable and later charged them before the Ogba Magistrates Court for defilement. The prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emerhi, informed the court that the victim was a minor and the court should give order for DPP report.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody, did not take their plea and denied them bail. The court directed the prosecutor to send their file to DPP for advice.
If the DPP finds them culpable. The matter will be transferred to the High Court over jurisdiction and the defendants risk a jail term.
The matter was adjourned till 20th January 2019 for the report of DPP advice to be available.
