“She was pointing towards her private part”: Man in court for raping a 2-year- old in Lagos

A 22-year-old man, Chekwube Odunze, has

been arraigned before a Magistrates Court in

Ebute Meta, Lagos State, for allegedly raping a

2-year-old child.

The police revealed that the incident took

place at Aboru, Oke-Odo area of Lagos.

It was gathered that the accused was fond of

distributing yoghurt to little children in the

area, by which he won their friendship.

Odunze who works as an operator in a pure

water factory, had reportedly taken the victim

into his room in the afternoon of December

23, 2013.

According to Nigerian Eye report :

It was learnt that the victim’s mother was

washing clothes when he took her daughter

into his room.

Some minutes later, the little girl came out and

started pointing towards her private part,

while screaming in pains and shouting the

defendant’s name.

The mother reportedly checked and saw blood

in her child’s pants.

She was said to have reported the matter at

the police station, which led to the arrest of

the defendant.

Our correspondent gathered that a medical

test on the victim proved there was indeed a

penetration, although Odunze denied touching

the child.

He was however arraigned on one count of

rape which read, “That you, Chekwube Odunze,

on December 23, 2013 at about 3pm at 6,

Temidire Street, Aboru Oke Odo, Lagos in the

Lagos Magisterial District, did have sexual

intercourse with one (name withheld) aged two

years and 11 months and thereby committed

an offence punishable under Section 137 of the

Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

He pleaded not guilty and elected summary

trial.

The prosecutor, Corporal Cyriacus Osuji,

applied that he be remanded in prison pending

legal advice from the Directorate of Public

Prosecution.

According to Osuji, the charge was felonious

and upon conviction, the defendant was liable

to life punishment.

However, the defence counsel, Ola Ogunbiyi

said, “This is a misconception. The court has

the constitutional and statutory power to

grant bail in this matter. First, the charge

before the court is having sex. It is not

felonious or punishable by life imprisonment.

Again, the court is not bound to send a case

that is not armed robbery or murder to the

DPP for legal advice. The power of the court is

wide and discretionary.”

He added that the parents of the victim had

agreed to withdraw the matter from court

since the parties were neighbours, wondering

why the police still insisted on prosecuting the

matter.

The magistrate, Mrs Demi Ajayi, agreed to

grant the defendant bail.

Odunze was admitted to bail in the sum of

N500,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till February 3,

2014.