Ibadan records over 20 new rape cases monthly -Survey

The incidence of rape has taken a serious dimension in Ibadan, Oyo state with more than 20
new cases reported monthly, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

A survey by NAN correspondent in Ibadan showed that the menace was fast assuming a dangerous dimension with reported abuse of minors

Mr James Ajibola, the legal adviser to the Nigeria Union of Journalist, Oyo State chapter, one of those interviewed in the survey, said rape was one of the social vices currently ravaging the society.
He said aside the fact that it had become an aberration, under-aged girls were now major targets of rapists, leaving their victims with horrible experiences.

The legal practitioner said the Nigeria constitution defines rape and spells out penalties for culprits, which range from two to 14 years jail term, depending on the severity of the crime or court’s discretion.

According to him, the intervention by various people to settle rape cases out of court has allowed rapists to go unpunished and thus encouraging more rape cases.

“Over 20 new rape cases are recorded on a monthly basis in Ibadan alone, with only one out of 100 per cent rape cases receiving diligent prosecution,” he said.

Source: Punch

Man caught attempting to rape girl, 9

A 23-year old man, Ohuegbe Vincent, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly wanting to have the carnal knowledge of a nine year old girl.

Vincent was, however, said to have assaulted the minor by “giving her a human bite on her right breast.”

The incident occurred on Church Street, in the Ebute Meta area of Lagos.

Vincent was arraigned on two counts of assault and attempted rape.

The charge read in part, “That you, Ohugbe Vincent, m, on the September 1, 2013, at about 1420 hours, at No 2, Church Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one (names withheld), f, aged 9 years old by giving her human bite on her right breast.”

The prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odige, said the offences were contrary to Sections 171 and 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

Vincent said he was not guilty of the charges.

His counsel pleaded he be admitted on bail.

The magistrate, Ms S.O Solebo, agreed to admit him on bail in the sum of N200,000 and with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till September 25.

PUNCH

41-year-old rapes girl, 11

A 41-year-old man, Ugochukwu Nwoke, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly having carnal knowledge of an 11 year old girl .

The incident was said to have occurred on Obadina Street, Abule Oja, in Yaba area of Lagos State.

 The police said Nwoke lured the minor into his room in the morning of August 25 and slept with her.

 The charge read, “That you, Ugochukwu Nwoke, m, on the 25th day of August, 2013, at about 11am at no 10, Obadina Street, Abule-Oja, Yaba in the Yaba Magisterial District did ulawfully have carnal knowledge of one (names withheld), f, 11 years old.”

 The prosecutor, Mr. Richard Odige, said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2011.

 Nwoke pleaded not guilty to the charge.

 His defence counsel pleaded that he should be admitted on bail in liberal terms.

The magistrate, Ms. S.O. Solebo, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till September 18.

PUNCH

Suspected gay docked for abusing 7-yr-old twin

PORT HARCOURT — POLICE in Rivers State have arraigned a 30-year-old Godface Ibama before a Port-Harcourt Magistrate Court for defiling a seven-year-old twin brothers.

The suspect alleged to be gay was arrested by the police at a waterfront in Mile 1, Diobu area of Port Harcourt for sexually abusing the victims.

Ibama, who is facing a two-count charge of unlawful carnal knowledge of the minors pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Mr Elkawah Fubara, the trial magistrate, consequently ordered the suspect to be remanded in police custody and adjourned till September 11, for hearing of the accused bail application.

Vanguard

Police arrest 2 men for allegedly defiling infants

Ado Ekiti — THE Po-lice have nabbed a 26-year-old man in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State for allegedly having canal knowledge of a five-year-old daughter of his father’s tenant.

Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr  Victor Babayemi, said the accused was arrested on August 28, 2013, after an attempt to lure the girl with a loaf of bread.

According to Babayemi, the accused in his confessional statement said he had been using bread to entice the girl and her sisters since he works in a bakery.

The suspect was said to have brought a loaf of bread and invited the girl to his room where  he allegedly abused her sexually.

In a related development, a 57-year-old man, one David (surname withheld), who allegedly defiled his five-year-old step-daughter in Igede-Ekiti, has been paraded  by the police in Igede-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

Vanguard

Court remands man, 34, for alleged rape of 12-year-old

ENUGU — An Enugu Magistrate Court, yesterday, remanded one Monday Okoye, 34, of Obuofia, in Awgu Local Government Area of the state in prison custody over alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The police in Enugu had arraigned Okoye before the court over alleged offence.

The prosecutor, Mr  Peter Eze, told the court that the matter was reported to the state Criminal Investigation Department on August 11.

Eze said the rape victim was absent in the court because she was hospitalised following the injury she sustained from the rape.

The prosecutor called seven witnesses to testify in the matter.

The magistrate, Mr Frank Chukwu, asked the accused if he had a counsel and he said he had none.

Chukwu said that the case would be transferred to the high court because it bordered on rape, adding that such was outside the jurisdiction of a magistrate court.

He, however, added that the prosecuting witnesses would testify in the high court on the matter.

He warned that each witness would pay N50,000 if they failed to appear in the high court for the case.

The magistrate ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case indefinitely.

Vanguard

25-yr-old arrested for raping 3-yr-old in Minna

A 25- year old man, Saliu Lawal has been arrested and detained at the Niger State Criminals Investigation Department (SCID) Minna, the state capital, for forcefully having carnal knowledge of a 3-year old girl at Angwan Daji area of Chanchaga Local Government of the state.

The suspect, a next door neighbour to the yet unidentified parents of the victim,  lured the little girl into the premises of a primary school, in the neighbourhood and raped her.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that shouts from the little girl attracted passersby who caught Saliu in the act. He, however, attempted to evade police arrest.

It was learnt further that the concerned neighbours gave the suspect a hot chase, apprehended him and handed him to the police for prosecution at Chanchaga Divisional Police Headquarters, under the state police command.

An insider source who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on the condition of anonymity, stated that upon interrogation by the police at the homicide section of the State’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Minna, said upon interrogation by the police the suspect, Lawal, allegedly confessed to the crime but claimed he was doing it for the first time with the little girl.

“I know the parents of the girl, they are my next door neighbour and I decided to lure her into a classroom. She, however, began to cry because her private part was very tight.”

The suspect who is said to be a bricklayer allegedly stated further that the attempted rape on the little girl was the first time he committed the crime and also denied ever taking advantage of any other little girl in the neighbourhood in the recent past.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, Mr Richard A. Oguche, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) confirmed the incident in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune.

“Rape is a capital offence and investigation into this case is almost completed, we are just waiting for the Medical report conducted on the victim, while the suspect would soon be charged to court and his admission to the commission of that offence is not substantial enough,” he stated.

He added that the Homicide Detectives were still gathering more evidences that could assist the police in the prosecution of the suspect whom he described as a serial rapist, going by the information allegedly given to the police by some concerned citizens resident at Angwan Daji, on the  outskirt of Minna, the state capital.

TRIBUNE