A 22-year-old man, Adekunle Taiwo, on Tuesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s five-year-old daughter.
The accused, a civil servant, who lives at 15, Atobaje St., Agege, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a charge of defilement.
The prosecutor, Insp. Racheal Williams, told the count that the offence was committed at about 10.30 p.m. at the residence of the accused on July 12.
According to Williams, the victim’s mother went to buy food and left her child at the passage of the house.
“The accused, who just returned from work, dragged the child to a corner and raped her.
“The cry of the child alerted a neighbour who came outside his room and caught the accused in the act,” she said.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The section prescribes life imprisonment for the offence.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, granted the accused a bail of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the case to Aug. 12 for mention.
NAN