Policeman Assaults 8-year-old Girl in Rape Attempt

An officer of  the Police Mobile   Force identified simply as Augustine who assaulted, tied and injured an 8-year-old girl, Amarachi Abakwuru, at their Ketu neighbourhood has since disappeared into thin air, even as the Lagos State Police Command keep mum over the matter.

The incident, which came on the heels of a similar  act by the Onikan Divisional Police Officer (DPO), DSP Adekunle Awe, who allegedly raped one Ms. Idowu Akinwunmi, a mother of two recently also in Lagos, has again exposed the soft underbelly of allegations of sexual abuse perpetuated by policemen.

When THISDAY visited the hospital where the girl was admitted,  she was seen writhing in pains on the bed, with a neck brace to support her neck and plaster to cover her broken skull.

THISDAY learnt that the victim was lured into the suspect’s house about 8pm on Thursday, and although he didn’t succeed in having carnal knowledge of the minor, he exerted his frustration at being thwarted by tying her up and cutting her skull.

It was also gathered that a search at the suspect’s house unearthed several clothing items belonging to young girls, fueling speculation that the items may be souvenirs from possible past escapades with his victims.

Barely managing to speak from her parched throat, the victim, who was saved by her sheer grit and brilliance,  said she never saw what was coming till it happened.

She said, “Mopol had sent me to buy bean cake for him earlier on which I did. Later, as I wanted to go into our apartment and sleep, he dragged me into his room. Then I heard my father calling my name and I told him to allow me go answer him.

“Mopol told me to shut up my mouth and the next thing, he covered my mouth with his hand and tied it with a cloth. He also tied my neck and my hands. He then used a sharp iron and hit me on the head. I started bleeding but I could not shout because he tied my mouth.
“When he heard my parents looking and shouting for me, he pushed me under his bed. Later, he locked the door and left me under the bed bleeding. I could hear my parents shouting my name but I couldn’t do anything.

“Later, although I was weak, I heard some people at the window and I heard my mother’s voice there. I used my last strength and dragged my body till one of my legs came out from under the bed. It was when they saw my leg from the window that they now broke the door.

“I want the government to arrest Mopol. He hurt me. I thought the police was my friend. Why did Mopol do that to me? I thought I would die.”

Speaking to THISDAY, the victim’s mother, Mrs. Nkiru Abakwuru, said the suspect was their next door neighbour at their residence in Ketu.

She said, “We have always been friendly with him so I cannot explain what pushed him to treat my daughter this way.  “In fact, that night, Mopol came back from a trip and we asked him about his car. He told us he had a collision with another vehicle at the toll gate and so he had to park it there.

“While we were still talking, he asked my daughter Amarachi to go buy some bean cake for him. When she came back with some change, he asked her to use it and buy fried yam for herself. She did but she didn’t finish it and gave the rest to me.

“Later  about 8pm, she said she wanted to and sleep. So while she went upstairs to sleep, I headed to the kitchen to wash the plates. Few minutes later, my husband came back and asked for Amarachi and I told him she went to sleep.

“Few seconds later, he told me she wasn’t in the room. I wasn’t alarmed yet. We started searching for her and I remember we asked Mopol three times and he said she didn’t enter his room.”
She continued, “At that point, we didn’t know he had already removed her clothes and tied her up and had also broken her skull. We went to the police station  about 11pm and one of the officers came to the house with us.

“He however refused to break open the door because he said there was a possibility the girl was not in the room. He then went to the window and pried it open. It was then we saw my daughter’s leg under the bed. We broke down the door and rushed her to two hospitals, where they rejected her because of the severity of her head wound.

“But before then, Mopol fled the house and when I called him, he said he went to smoke. Up till now, he hasn’t come back. His mother even called me today to ask which hospital we were in. I heard the son’s voice in the background and when I asked for her location in Alapere, she switched off the phone.” The victim’s father, Mr. Patrick Abakwuru, who also spoke, called on the police and the state government to come to their aid in terms of treatment for the teenage girl.

According to him, due to the severity of the head wound, the hospital had concluded plans to transfer them to another hospital (name withheld) for better treatment.

Source

DPO accused of rape still in detention – Lagos CP

LAGOS — The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko, yesterday, assured Nigerians that the panel investigating the alleged rape of a mother of three by a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in Lagos was working hard to unravel the truth behind the claims.

This is just as the command has debunked reports that the DPO had been released from custody. Rather, it maintained that the DPO was still in the cell.

Also, the command debunked reports that robbers, Monday, raided for several hours un-challenged in Mushin area of Lagos.

Answering questions from newsmen on the DPO and another policeman posted on YouTube battering a woman, Manko said the command would not shield anyone, be he a civilian or policeman, that committed a crime.

“Anyone who offends the law faces the wrath of the law, policemen inclusive. Investigation is still ongoing by the panel set up by the Inspector-General of Police.

“Also, the policeman that was posted on YouTube battering a lady, has been arrested and is still being detained.”

Mushin clash not robbery

He, however, clarified that the Mushin reported robbery was not true after all. Rather, he explained that it was a fight among rival groups over supremacy.

He said: “There is no way robbers can come and hold Lagos to ransom for seven hours without Police being there.

“What happened in Mushin was a disagreement between two groups that were fighting for supremacy. One group took money from somebody and refused to share for the other one.

“It was in this process they had an encounter. It happened in the morning and at night. They had a carnival and used the opportunity of the night to launch attack on each other.

“The Police were there and the situation was brought to normalcy. Robbers cannot rob for seven minutes without police responding, let alone for seven hours.”

DPO still in cell

Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police,DSP, said: “The DPO is still in our detention. He is in the cell at Area ‘F’. It is not possible to release a man with such magnitude of allegation bothering on rape.”

Braide said the Police High Command investigating panel set up to look into the matter has not submitted its report, arguing that the DPO would not have been released when the panel has just commenced investigation.

In another development, Manko commended Lagosians for partnering with the command to fight crime. He gave the commendation during the inauguration of a training and administrative building built by the Lagos State Police Traffic Division, Awolowo Road, Ikeja.

Represented by the Area F Commander, Mr Tunde Adagunduro, he described the building as a manifestation of police relations and  friendship with members of the public.

Source

Policeman rapes, impregnates pastor’s 13-yr-old daughter

AWKA—A police sergeant (names withheld) has been arrested in Anambra State for allegedly raping a 13- year-old daughter of a popular pastor at Nkpor in Idemili Council Area of the state.

The young girl, said to be two months pregnant told her parents last Saturday who was responsible for her pregnancy.

According to a close family source, who does not want to be quoted, the girl told her parents that the policeman had threatened her against telling anyone about the affair.

The source said the threat made her keep the secret until few days ago when she complained to her mother about some symptoms, which after thorough investigation led to her confession of being pregnant.

According to reports, the policeman initially denied the allegation and was supported by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, which made the victim’s parents to petition a human rights group and the state Commissioner of Police.

After the petition, the policeman was said to have accepted responsibility and agreed to take care of the girl till delivery.

He promised to be giving the girl’s family N20,000 monthly for the girl’s up keep, which the father turned down, demanding N300,000 to enable him take proper care of her daughter till delivery.

In the girl’s statement to her parents, she was quoted as saying that the policeman ordered her at gunpoint to have sex with him on her way from school, a claim the suspect denied, saying the action was carried out mutually between them and not by force.

When contacted, the state PPRO, Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed that the command received such report but said investigations were ongoing with a view to ascertaining the level of culpability of the said policeman.

The command image‑maker, stated that proper investigation in the matter was necessary, because the state Commissioner of Police, Usman Gwary, does not tolerate acts of indiscipline by his officers and men.

According to him, “the matter is under investigation and I will brief the press on it later.”

Source

DPO Rape Saga: Police Panel Makes Headway in Investigations

As the panel set up by the Lagos State Police Command continues to investigate the Onikan Divisional Police Officer (DPO), more facts have emerged in the DPO’s rape saga.

The panel, which was set up by the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, was tasked to investigate and find out the truth in the claims by one Ms. Idowu Akinwunmi, who was allegedly raped by the Onikan DPO, Adekunle Awe.
THISDAY yesterday gathered that to unravel the truth behind the allegations, the victim was put to some tests by the panel led by the human rights department of the state command.

At the sitting were the panel members which included the Officer in Charge of the Human Right Department in the state Police Command, Olu Falomo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP); Officer in Charge of X-Squad,  Kola Okunola, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP); Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of Administration, Mr. Felix Ogundeji; Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), in charge of Operations, Tunde Shobulo and the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ngozi Braide.

Some of the tests the victim was put through was by asking her to describe where the rape allegedly happened and according to police sources, she was able to accurately state the condition of the DPO's office.

The victim had described the office thus, "The office has an inner room and that was where he took me to. The room is painted cream colour. There was no bed-sheet on the bed and the mattress has green and white colours.
"After he had raped me, the place I later washed had a wash hand basin and paint bucket, which was filled with water and mixed with Dettol."

The state police spokesperson, DSP Ngozi Braide, also pledged that the command would get to the root of the matter since the allegations were too weighty to be swept under the carpet.
Meanwhile, the police had already withdrawn Awe’s service pistol, based on the charges of extortion, sexual assault, rape and illegal detention levelled against him.

THISDAY

Rape Allegation: DPO granted bail, as panel visits his office, toilet

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, accused of raping a detainee mother of two in Lagos has been released on bail after three days in detention.

He was granted bail yesterday as more allegations emerged that he had faced similar charges in the past.

One of such cases was allegedly reported against the suspect while he was serving at the Zone 2 Police, Onikan.

The IGP, Mr. Abubakar weekend, directed that a discreet investigation be carried out on the rape allegation.

The three-man team of investigators was said to have been drawn from the Lagos State Police Public Relations Office, Human Rights and X-Squad, which is expected to make its findings in the rape saga known to members of the public this week.

The DPO, alongside seven other police officers on duty on the day of the alleged incident, were summoned last Friday for interrogation at the state Police Command, but some of the accused persons, according to police sources, claimed ignorance of the matter as they said they went to eat at the period and never saw when the lady was invited by the DPO into his office for alleged “debriefing.’’

The three-man investigative panel reportedly visited the police division, where the alleged act took place, Saturday, to inspect the location of the room in the DPO’s office where the detainee was said to have been raped, including the toilet where the mother of two claimed to have washed herself later as instructed by the DPO, as part of its investigation.

Five of the policemen earlier detained alongside the DPO were released by the panel, on the ground that they were not directly involved.

Commending the IGP for his prompt response following its petition on the issue, the National Coordinator, Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said: “Were it not for the early intervention of the IGP, this matter would very likely have been swept under the carpet as had happened in the past.

“NOPRIN has continued to follow up on the progress of investigation and is satisfied that the investigation team has made far-reaching and illuminating inroad in their effort to unravel the truth and recommend appropriate disciplinary and remedial actions.

‘’With the confirmation of the narrative by the victim in her statement to the police, especially her description of the DPO’s office and the illustration made of it; and with the conflicts in the various statements made by the DPO and other detained police officers on duty on the day of the incident, there is no doubt about the veracity and credibility of the victim’s claims.

“We call on the investigating team to remain focused, steadfast and professional and resist any pressure to compromise the investigation.

“We expect that investigation should be concluded pretty early and that on conclusion of investigation, the report will be made public and appropriate sanctions imposed on the culprits.”

Lagos State Police Command spokesman, Ngozi Braide, said investigation was still on, that adding that findings would be made public when concluded.

Source

Abia Police arraign 4 for rape of 18-yr-old girl

UMUAHIA — Abia State Police Command has charged four suspects to court for raping an 18-year-old girl, identified as Chikodi Ogbonna.

The suspects are Chika Ejim, 20 years; Chinweotuto Nwosu, 20 years; Uchechi Nnaukwu, 20 years and Chigozie Ejikeme, 18 years.

They were arraigned under a 3-count charge of raping the girl at a burrow pit at Amangwu  Elu-Elu, Olokoro in Umuahia South Council Area of the state.

According to the Charge No- U/134c/2014, count one alleged that the suspects “on 4th of April 2014, at Amangwu  Elu-Elu, Olokoro in Umuahia South Magisterial District, conspired among yourselves and induced one Chikodi Ogbonna [f] under the age of 18 years to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17 [a] of the Trafficking in Persons [Prohibition] Law Enforcement and Administration Act. Cap. T23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Abia State.

Count two said that the accused “did detain one Chikodi Ogbonna against her will for the purpose of being unlawfully carnally known by you and thereby committed an offence punishable under 17 [b]” of the same law.

Similarly, in count three, the four suspects were accused of “procuring with threat /intimidation one Chikodi Ogbonna, under the ag of 18 years and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 18 [a] of the same law.

Source

How DPO raped me in detention—Sales girl

BY EVELYN USMAN & ESTHER ONYEGBULA LAGOS — Trouble is brewing at a police division, Lagos Island following claims by a mother of two that she was raped by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, while in detention at the station.

The 31-year‑old Beninoise, identified as Idowu Akinwunmi, works as a sales girl in a restaurant on Keffi Road, in Ikoyi area of the state.

She was reportedly picked by some policemen from Onikan division, following a complaint lodged by her boss, one Mrs Pelumi Idowu, over an undisclosed reason, at about 1 am. She said she was thrown into the cell on reaching the station.

However, at about 10 pm, Akinwunmi said one Inspector Ajiduwe called her out of the cell and took her to the DPO’s office, where she alleged that the station’s boss forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. According t o her, “He, the DPO, made love to me without a condom, saying he would throw me into prison if I mention the incident to anyone.”

Refund of N10,000 bail

Aside that, she also alleged that the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, collected  N10,000 from her for bail before she was released. Akinwunmi told members of the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN, that she had been having severe abdominal pain sincere the intercourse.

Although the DPO denied raping the detainee, when NOPRIN inquired from him, he reportedly called the man who stood surety for Akinwunmi to come for a refund of the N10,000 bribe for bail they extorted from her after allegedly raping her.

NOPRIN condemns

The National Coordinator, NOPRIN, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma who condemned the rape, said: “NOPRIN condemns the attempt by some police officers at Area A Command, Lion Building to block the victim from lodging a complaint of the rape with the Area Commander and collecting a police report to go for medical examination.” At the command level, Vanguard gathered that the state command frowned at the allegation and had commenced investigation to ascertain the DPO’s alleged culpability. If found guilty, the DPO, said to have put in about 25 years in service, would face disciplinary action. Already, the Command’s boss, Umar Manko, had reportedly summoned the parties involved to the command for  interrogation as at 3 pm, yesterday. Spokesperson for the command, Ngozi Braide, however, could not state whether the allegation was true or false but told Vanguard that investigation at the end of the day would prove that, adding: “It is an allegation and we are taking it very serious.”   How I was raped — Akinwunmi Narrating her ordeal, Akinwunmi,  told Vanguard: “I was arrested because my madam told the police that I allowed one Friday, a customer pass the night in the restaurant. Two relatives of one of the tailors employed by my madam who came on a visit were also arrested. “I am from Cotonou in Benin Republic. I am a mother of two and I have been working for Ms Pelumi for about 10 months now. I have done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. Is it because I am a foreigner that I would be abused without protection? Nigerians should give me justice. I demand justice for this wrong that has been done to me. “While at the station, I pleaded with one of the police women to allow me take my bath since I have not been allowed to do so since I was arrested and she agreed. “On my way to the bathroom, I met the DPO for the first time. He asked if I was Idowu and I said yes. He then asked why I chose to violate my boss’ rules and I told him it was a mistake. “At about 10pm, one Inspector Ajiduwe took me out of the cell to the DPO, apparently for debriefing on the case. “Immediately the Inspector left the office, the DPO started touching me. When I asked him to stop, he said my boss said they should do anything they liked to me. “He threatened to shoot me and send me and those arrested with me to jail, if I refused to allow him make love to me and that he would release all of us if I gave in. “He, thereafter, took me into the inner room in his office. I began to plead with him to use a condom but he refused and forced himself on me . “When he finished, he told me to wash myself in the bathroom which I did. After that, he sent me back to the cell, with a promise that I would be released. “But when my relatives came to effect our bail, they paid N30,000 for five of us. As we were going, the DPO scribbled his number on a piece of paper and gave to me. “Immediately I left, my relatives took me to the Island Maternity for the necessary medical tests.”

Source

BY EVELYN USMAN & ESTHER ONYEGBULA LAGOS — Trouble is brewing at a police division, Lagos Island following claims by a mother of two that she was raped by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, while in detention at the station.

The 31-year‑old Beninoise, identified as Idowu Akinwunmi, works as a sales girl in a restaurant on Keffi Road, in Ikoyi area of the state.
She was reportedly picked by some policemen from Onikan division, following a complaint lodged by her boss, one Mrs Pelumi Idowu, over an undisclosed reason, at about 1 am. She said she was thrown into the cell on reaching the station.
However, at about 10 pm, Akinwunmi said one Inspector Ajiduwe called her out of the cell and took her to the DPO’s office, where she alleged that the station’s boss forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. According t o her, “He, the DPO, made love to me without a condom, saying he would throw me into prison if I mention the incident to anyone.”

Refund of N10,000 bail

Aside that, she also alleged that the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, collected  N10,000 from her for bail before she was released. Akinwunmi told members of the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN, that she had been having severe abdominal pain sincere the intercourse.
Although the DPO denied raping the detainee, when NOPRIN inquired from him, he reportedly called the man who stood surety for Akinwunmi to come for a refund of the N10,000 bribe for bail they extorted from her after allegedly raping her.

NOPRIN condemns

The National Coordinator, NOPRIN, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma who condemned the rape, said: “NOPRIN condemns the attempt by some police officers at Area A Command, Lion Building to block the victim from lodging a complaint of the rape with the Area Commander and collecting a police report to go for medical examination.” At the command level, Vanguard gathered that the state command frowned at the allegation and had commenced investigation to ascertain the DPO’s alleged culpability. If found guilty, the DPO, said to have put in about 25 years in service, would face disciplinary action. Already, the Command’s boss, Umar Manko, had reportedly summoned the parties involved to the command for  interrogation as at 3 pm, yesterday. Spokesperson for the command, Ngozi Braide, however, could not state whether the allegation was true or false but told Vanguard that investigation at the end of the day would prove that, adding: “It is an allegation and we are taking it very serious.”   How I was raped — Akinwunmi Narrating her ordeal, Akinwunmi,  told Vanguard: “I was arrested because my madam told the police that I allowed one Friday, a customer pass the night in the restaurant. Two relatives of one of the tailors employed by my madam who came on a visit were also arrested. “I am from Cotonou in Benin Republic. I am a mother of two and I have been working for Ms Pelumi for about 10 months now. I have done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. Is it because I am a foreigner that I would be abused without protection? Nigerians should give me justice. I demand justice for this wrong that has been done to me. “While at the station, I pleaded with one of the police women to allow me take my bath since I have not been allowed to do so since I was arrested and she agreed. “On my way to the bathroom, I met the DPO for the first time. He asked if I was Idowu and I said yes. He then asked why I chose to violate my boss’ rules and I told him it was a mistake. “At about 10pm, one Inspector Ajiduwe took me out of the cell to the DPO, apparently for debriefing on the case. “Immediately the Inspector left the office, the DPO started touching me. When I asked him to stop, he said my boss said they should do anything they liked to me. “He threatened to shoot me and send me and those arrested with me to jail, if I refused to allow him make love to me and that he would release all of us if I gave in. “He, thereafter, took me into the inner room in his office. I began to plead with him to use a condom but he refused and forced himself on me . “When he finished, he told me to wash myself in the bathroom which I did. After that, he sent me back to the cell, with a promise that I would be released. “But when my relatives came to effect our bail, they paid N30,000 for five of us. As we were going, the DPO scribbled his number on a piece of paper and gave to me. “Immediately I left, my relatives took me to the Island Maternity for the necessary medical tests.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/dpo-raped-detention-sales-girl/#sthash.vbP46yqX.dpuf

Court Remands Minor For Over Rape Of Toddler

A Gusau Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered a 15-year-old boy to be remanded in a remand home for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl.

The accused is a resident of Unguwar Dallatu in Gusau.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Daniel Longwal, told the court that one Aminu Umar of Unguwar Dallatu, Gusau, reported the case at Central Police Station, Gusau on April 3.

Longwal said that the complainant reported that the girl was playing in front of his house when the suspect, a servant in the house, took the girl to a corner and raped her.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code.
However, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim, thereafter, ordered that the accused be remanded in the home and adjourned the case until April 22. (NAN)

Rape: 2 Arrested Over Rape Of 80-year-old Woman

The police in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North local government area of Delta State have arrested two men, Emeka Igwe and John Igberin, aged 31 and 33 respectively, for allegedly raping an 80-year-old grandmother in the area.

The police public relations officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu who confirmed the arrest said the police got information that the suspects attacked and raped the woman (name withheld) on her way from the farm.

According to her, on the fateful Thursday, at about 10:30am, the woman had gone to her farm not too far from her house and on her way home, met the suspects who under the guise of being hunters, accosted her and dragged her into the bush where she was allegedly raped.

LEADERSHIP gathered that after raping the grandmother, one of the suspects fled but unfortunately fell into a deep hole and farmers who were on the way to their farm made to assist him when they heard the shouts of the old woman and immediately moved to the scene, where the old woman pointed in the direction the suspect ran to.

They were said to have raised the alarm that attracted other farmers who in turn called the police patrol team who came and arrested the suspect bot not after he had been thoroughly beaten by the farmers.

The arrested suspect was said to have led the police to their hideout where the second suspect was arrested.

DSP Kalu who said the suspects had confessed to the crime added that they would be charged to court as the doctors had examined the woman and found bruises on her private part.


Source

70-yr-old HIV patient rapes girl, 13

JOS— A 70-year-old man has been arrested for raping a 13-year-old girl in Barkin Ladi Local Government of Plateau State.

The man whose name has been withheld was said to have raped the girl last Thursday.

The suspect said to be  in police net is infected with HIV and is on anti-retroviral drugs.

The old man was said to have been caught in the act by the son of the landlord, who immediately reported the matter to the police.

It was also gathered that the old man had confessed committing  the crime, but later denied after some of his kinsmen told him to deny raping the minor.

The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe confirmed that the 70-year-old man is in police custody in Barkin Ladi, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl but said he would be transferred to the headquarters in Jos.

Source

JOS— A 70-year-old man has been arrested for raping a 13-year-old girl in Barkin Ladi Local Government of Plateau State.
The man whose name has been withheld was said to have raped the girl last Thursday.
The suspect said to be  in police net is infected with HIV and is on anti-retroviral drugs.
The old man was said to have been caught in the act by the son of the landlord, who immediately reported the matter to the police.
It was also gathered that the old man had confessed committing  the crime, but later denied after some of his kinsmen told him to deny raping the minor.
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe confirmed that the 70-year-old man is in police custody in Barkin Ladi, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl but said he would be transferred to the headquarters in Jos.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/70-yr-old-hiv-patient-rapes-girl-13/#sthash.1DGQt95Q.dpuf

Court Remands Man, 25, Over Alleged Rape Of A Minor

An Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded Damilare Oladoye, 25, for allegedly raping an eight-year-old girl in Ile-Ife.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, remanded the accused in custody and ordered the counsel to the accused, Miss Bose Dada, to file a formal bail application on his behalf.

Aluko also directed that the case file of the matter be duplicated and forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

Prosecutor John Idoko had told the court that the accused raped the minor on April 8 at about 10:05 p.m. at Gbelekan Area, Ile-Ife, Osun.

Idoko said the accused, who lives in the same house with the victim, forcefully and unlawfully had sexual intercourse with the minor when nobody was around and at home.

He said the offence was contrary to Section 31 (1) of the Childs Right Law of Osun 2007.
However, the plea of the accused was not taken. (NAN)

Lagos shuts illegal orphanage, rescues 5 children

LAGOS — THE Lagos State government has shut an illegal orphanage at Alagbado in Agbado‑Okeodo Local Council Development Area, LCDA and rescued five children from the home.

xdVanguard gathered that the orphanage, Stream of Mercy and Love for Humanity Centre, located at Ilapo village, Alagbado was never registered with the state government before it commenced operation about two years ago.

Sources said that officials of the Office of Youth and Social Development, OYSD, stormed the area last Thursday, arresting the caregiver found in the orphanage and shut the premises.

Vanguard learnt that the officials rescued five children who were between the ages of one and eight years. Also, Mrs. Glory Ebenezer, the owner of the orphanage was said to be away at the time of closure.

Vanguard learnt that the caregiver was later released after the husband to the owner of the orphanage showed up at the office of the state Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

The owner’s husband, who was formally detained, was later released on bail as the offence is said to be bailable.

The orphanage, our correspondent gathered, had approached the state government for registration on December 23, 2013, but was turned down since it did not allegedly meet the requirement for registration.

A state government officials alleged that the orphanage had been operating three years before it sought for registration, an act the government declared illegal as one could not operate an orphanage without being registered.

Special Adviser to the state Governor on Youth and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru, said the state government had carried out surveillance on the orphanage and discovered that it was not registered and operating illegally, saying this was what informed the closure.

Badru said: “We got there and rescued the children and locked up the place and we are going to prosecute them. We want to know how they came about the children and their history. It is illegal to keep children when they are not yours without informing the government.”

He said that this was not the first time the government would be prosecuting people with illegal orphanage and that government would not relent in getting rid of illegal orphanages in Lagos State.

According to him, “some of them think that because they are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, they don’t need to register with us when they operate orphanage homes. Some of them even say they have a calling from God to operate orphanages. They should desist from such act when not registered.

“If they have calling from God to operate an orphanage, they should come to the government and we will give them the requirement to operate. There must be regulation in this sense as intended operators must have the infrastructure in place. It is like when you want to operate a school, you must register.”

The Special Adviser noted that it was not impossible that some illegal orphanages sell babies as they were not being monitored by government, but noted that those fully accredited to operate were credible and did not engage in sharp practices.

Badru said the children rescued had been kept in government’s custody while the owner of the orphanage would be arraigned in court soon.

VANGUARD

LAGOS — THE Lagos State government has shut an illegal orphanage at Alagbado in Agbado‑Okeodo Local Council Development Area, LCDA and rescued five children from the home.
Vanguard gathered that the orphanage, Stream of Mercy and Love for Humanity Centre, located at Ilapo village, Alagbado was never registered with the state government before it commenced operation about two years ago.
Sources said that officials of the Office of Youth and Social Development, OYSD, stormed the area last Thursday, arresting the caregiver found in the orphanage and shut the premises.
Vanguard learnt that the officials rescued five children who were between the ages of one and eight years. Also, Mrs. Glory Ebenezer, the owner of the orphanage was said to be away at the time of closure.
Vanguard learnt that the caregiver was later released after the husband to the owner of the orphanage showed up at the office of the state Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
The owner’s husband, who was formally detained, was later released on bail as the offence is said to be bailable.
The orphanage, our correspondent gathered, had approached the state government for registration on December 23, 2013, but was turned down since it did not allegedly meet the requirement for registration.
A state government officials alleged that the orphanage had been operating three years before it sought for registration, an act the government declared illegal as one could not operate an orphanage without being registered.
Special Adviser to the state Governor on Youth and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru, said the state government had carried out surveillance on the orphanage and discovered that it was not registered and operating illegally, saying this was what informed the closure.
Badru said: “We got there and rescued the children and locked up the place and we are going to prosecute them. We want to know how they came about the children and their history. It is illegal to keep children when they are not yours without informing the government.”
He said that this was not the first time the government would be prosecuting people with illegal orphanage and that government would not relent in getting rid of illegal orphanages in Lagos State.
According to him, “some of them think that because they are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, they don’t need to register with us when they operate orphanage homes. Some of them even say they have a calling from God to operate orphanages. They should desist from such act when not registered.
“If they have calling from God to operate an orphanage, they should come to the government and we will give them the requirement to operate. There must be regulation in this sense as intended operators must have the infrastructure in place. It is like when you want to operate a school, you must register.”
The Special Adviser noted that it was not impossible that some illegal orphanages sell babies as they were not being monitored by government, but noted that those fully accredited to operate were credible and did not engage in sharp practices.
Badru said the children rescued had been kept in government’s custody while the owner of the orphanage would be arraigned in court soon.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/lagos-shuts-illegal-orphanage-rescues-5-children/#sthash.N61Eii1N.dpuf

Man in court over alleged rape of 8-year-old girl

A trader, Uche Okoye, 30, on Tuesday appeared before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with raping an eight-year-old girl.

Okoye, who resides at Ajagbandi area of Lagos is facing a one-count charge of rape.

The prosecutor, SP Soji Ojaokomo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 2, at his residence.

He said that Okoye unlawfully had carnal knowledge of the girl without her consent.

“The accused lured the girl into his apartment and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her,’’ Ojaokomo said.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

Section 137 provides that any person who has sexual intercourse with a child is guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment for life.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, granted the accused N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till April 24, for mention.

VANGUARD

55-Year-Old Businessman Rapes Daughter

Police detectives in Asaba Police Headquarters, Delta State have arrested a 55-year-old businessman identified as Joseph Oboshi around Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba for allegedly raping his 11-year-old daughter.

LEADERSHIP Weekend reliably gathered that the incident occurred on Monday night when the wife of the suspect who is also the mother of the victim had gone with two other of her children for an all-night special prayer session.

The rape victim is the third daughter of the suspect who had allegedly been caught in many rape cases that were “suppressed” after he was reported to have offered some ritual sacrifices.

Trouble started two hours after the wife and two other children had left the house, leaving the suspect in desperate sexual mood. Therafter, he allegedly forced himself on the victim.

While his attempt to pummel his victim failed, sources said she raised the alarm which attracted the attention of neighbours in the compound who immediately rushed to the scene where they met the suspect on pant sweating profusely.

The suspect was then apprehended by the neighbours and taken to the ‘A Division Police station whose personnel took him to the state CID where he is at present being detained.

LEADERSHIP Weekend checks revealed that there have been frequent cases of rape in the areas such as Ogbeke Square, Umuagu and behind the Stephen Keshi Stadium Quarters. This has kept residents of the areas on alert, even as they have called on the law enforcement agencies to come to their aid.

DSP Celestina Kalu, police public relations officer in the state, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, disclosed that six other suspected cultists were also arrested around the moribund Asaba Textile Mill during initiation of new members.

LeadershipNGA

Rape: Driver Arrested For Violating Primary School Pupils

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a driver, one Robert Ojeru, over alleged serial rape of two pupils of a primary school in Asaba, the state capital.

The victims (names withehld) are Primary 3 pupils of Ozigwe Primary School and are aged 13 and 14.

The suspect, whose wife reportedly put to bed recently, drives one of the vehicles in the fleet of the state-owned transport company, which offers free transportation to pupils and students of various schools in the state.

He was alleged to have regularly isolated the two girls whom he forced to remain in the bus after dropping their unsuspecting mates in the school.

LEADERSHIP gathered that on each of the time the suspect raped the girls, he would move them to an uncompleted building near the school, where he took turns to rape them.

It was further gathered that the nefarious action came into public domain when the mother of one of the victims noticed an unusual behaviour from her ward and the girl opened up after persistent pressure by her bewildered mother.

The matter was later reported to the police.

The victims are currently undergoing series of medical checks at a government-owned hospital in the state capital.

Police public relations officer in the state, Celestina Kalu confirmed the report, adding that the suspect would be prosecuted at the end of the preliminary investigation.

Source

Why Rape Is On The Increase– Mothers

Some mothers on Wednesday blamed the increasing cases of rape witnessed in the country on the failure of some parents to meet their responsibilities to their girl children.
The told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some mothers failed in their duty to properly monitor the actions and movement of their girl-child.
Mrs Veronica Odogwu, a medical practitioner and Head of Health, Confraternity of Christian Mothers, Ijegun, blamed some mothers for neglecting their responsibilities as mothers to their gild children.
“As mothers, we need to look inwards; don’t let us entrust our children to the wrong people.
“And the man who raped the four-year-old, you’ll see that it’s a very big problem; if a man who is supposed to be father himself is raping a four-year-old, then that type of a man needs help.
“But if all women can stand up, every mother looking at every child as her own it will not happen because if you see a child roaming aimlessly and not going home or leaving school, going to other places, you should be able to correct that child’’.
Mrs Chinwe Okoye, a teacher at Queens College, Lagos and a mother of six girls, advised young girls to be smart at saying no to men, irrespective of how close, (the men) were to them.
“It’s pathetic, it’s disheartening, I feel very bad. It is something that I don’t understand where they get the guts to do that.
“It is a thing of the mind for an adult to be able to rape a minor. I t’s terrible.
“I think the best thing is one, we inculcate into the children no matter how small and tender the spirit of saying `no’.
“Stop seeing people as uncle, they are what they are, in your home; make sure you tell your girl child to be protective of herself; don’t let people touch you.
“Scream, and don’t stay in tight corners in a room; don’t trust them so much, and once they begin to make overtures.
“And they tell you they will kill you if you talk, don’t trust them, don’t believe them, talk because they can’t really kill you; your parents will protect you.
“You give your girl child a lot of confidence, that way they will know whom they are.
“And they won’t allow themselves to be lured into dangerous corners by those miscreants; of course, that’s what I call them’’.
Mrs Francisca Obasuyi, President, Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria, Saints Joachim and Anne, Ijegun, Lagos, appealed to mothers to teach their daughters decent dress code.
“I see it as irresponsibility on the side of men but at the same time, we women have our own fault.
“Because some of us that are women dress nude outside; then if you dress half naked outside, what do you teach your daughters?
“Some us, we see our daughters dress half naked, they come from home and they leave from the home to outside and these mothers see them and we don’t correct them.
“And then what do you expect? They are the ones who provoke the men so to say. So the mothers are to be blamed and we mothers should try and turn a new leaf’’.
A coordinator in a skill acquisition centre, Mrs Eugenia Okafor, noted that child labour exposed young girls as easy prey for rape.
“The problem can be solved when mothers take care of their children; this issue of child labour is rampant.
“Mothers should take care of those children; keep them, secure them because when a child is exposed to go and sell, go and buy, they may fall prey to these rapists.
“But the mothers should keep them; you know they are so precious, you guide them’’.
According to them, if adequate precautions are taken by all stakeholders, cases of rape can be checked. (NAN)

Court Remands Man 32 For Alleged Rape Of 9-year-old Girl

A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded a businessman, Mahmood Mohammed, 32, in prison custody for alleged rape of minor.

Mohammed, who resides at No 14a, Hayan Banki, Kawo, in Kaduna, committed the offence on Feb.4.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) read by the Prosecutor, Insp. Sani Umar, the accused lured his victim and used his finger to open her private part before penetrating with his penis.

Umar said the General Hospital Kawo had confirmed the incident and produced the result of the rape investigation.

He said the offence contravened Section 282 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State 1991.
The charge was read to the accused but no plea was taken.

Chief Magistrate Bashir Shittu told the accused that he was only brought before him for cognisance.
Shitu said that his court had no jurisdiction to try the case and adjourned the case till May 19, for further mention. (NAN)