MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 40-year old man, Ikenna Uchendu, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly engaging his neighbour’s 12-year old girl in sex and Impregnating her in the process.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Uchendu, has been arrested and charged for defilement under the Criminal law of the State.
The incident happened at Jungbamila Street in Bariga area of Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, sometime in 2024, the suspect lured the victim to his apartment, engaged her in sex and thereafter warned her not to tell anyone about it and she kept it to herself.
However, after several months, the victim’s parents began to see changes in her body. A medical test was conducted and the result showed that she was pregnant.
The victim was asked to know who was responsible. She mentioned the suspect and revealed that he defiled her and asked her not to tell anyone about it.
The matter was reported to the Police at Bariga Division. The suspect was arrested and transferred to the Gender Section of the Command for interrogation over the alleged offence.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, Ikenna Uchendu sometime in October, 2024, at Jungbamila Street, Bariga – Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did defile the victim by forcefully having unlawful carnal knowledge of her and Impregnating her and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.”
However, the Court did not take his plea following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O.Tanimola, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
