A 16-year-old boy, Tosin Oloyede, has been remanded in the Special Correctional Centre for Boys in Oregun by the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Ogba, Lagos State. This was due to allegations that he raped a five-year-old girl during the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state, as disclosed by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Akeem Raji, during the court proceedings on March 8, 2023.
The incident was said to have occurred on February 25, 2023, around 2 pm in the Ikorodu area of Lagos. Raji added that the defendant, who is the victim’s neighbor, allegedly defiled her, which is a violation of Section 27 and punishable under Section 210 (8) of the Child Right Law of Lagos State 2015.
Magistrate Mrs. B. O. Osusanmi, who presided over the case, remanded the defendant pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution. The defendant was not required to enter a plea as he was brought before the court on a remand application.
During the court hearing on Wednesday, the victim burst into tears as soon as she saw the suspect who had allegedly raped her. Inspector Esther Igbineweka, who led the investigation, informed Magistrate Osusanmi that the suspect had confessed to raping the girl both at the Igbogbo Police Station and at the police command in Ikeja.
Igbineweka stated, “The defendant admitted to us that he had sexual intercourse with the victim.” However, when questioned in court, the suspect only acknowledged touching the girl.
The victim’s father also spoke during the proceedings, explaining that on the day of the elections, they had gone to vote and upon returning, their son reported that the suspect had raped his sister while he was playing football outside.
“While he was playing the ball outside, he said he discovered that he didn’t see his sister and went in search of her. He told us that he caught the boy who is my neighbour’s son when he got inside the house.
“My son also told us that the parents of the boy begged him not to tell us when we returned but my son said how will he not tell us about such a thing that happened to his sister.”
The court case was adjourned until April 12, 2023, to await the legal advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
