60-year-old teacher remanded for defiling pupil in toilet

Stanley Ihedigbo

A teacher, Mr Benjamin Omole, 60, has been remanded in prison custody by an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling an 11-year-old pupil in a school toilet.

The accused committed the offence on 16^th January, at the premises of Atunda-Olu School for Special Needs, situated on Adam Orisha Street, Surulere, Lagos.

The Prosecutor, Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the accused defiled the 11-year-old girl (name withheld) by having carnal knowledge of her.

 Emuerhi said the case was reported at the Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, by Mercy Ogunranti, a social worker attached to a Social Development Centre.

Emuerhi said that the suspect lured the girl with N100, with which to buy noodles.

He added: “The minor said that she wanted to buy noodles. After much questioning, the victim said that the accused gave her N100 after taking her to the school’s toilet. In the toilet, he fondled with her breasts and had sexual intercourse with her.”

He noted that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and attracts up to life imprisonment. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Olufunke Sule-Amzat, ordered that the accused should be kept in Kirikiri Prison, pending advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.

The defendant, a resident of Oke-Ona Close in the Ifako Ijaiye area of the state, is standing trial for child defilement. The President Magistrate   adjourned the case until April 4^th for mention.