Court remands Lagos teacher over alleged defilement of 15-year-old student

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An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court has remanded a lesson teacher, identified simply as Michael, at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre over the alleged defilement of a 15-year-old student in the Ketu area of Lagos State.

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The development was disclosed by the Lagos State Police Command on Friday, days after PUNCH Metro reported the alleged rape and claims that some police officers attempted to frustrate the prosecution of the case.

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PUNCH Metro had reported that the survivor’s mother, Mrs Zainab Musa, accused some police officers of pressuring her family to accept N200,000 and withdraw the case.

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Reacting to the allegation on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, dismissed the claim as “a mere allegation” and insisted it was untrue.

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She maintained that the case was still under investigation at the time and assured that the suspect would be prosecuted.

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“The case is still ongoing, and the suspect will be arraigned in court as soon as he is fit to face justice,” she had said.

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Adebisi explained that the case was reported at the Ketu Police Station on July 13, adding that the suspect was arrested and detained the same day for investigation.

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According to her, the suspect collapsed on July 15 while preparations were underway to arraign him in the presence of the survivor and her mother.

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“He was immediately rushed to the Lagos State Emergency Hospital at Toll Gate, where he was admitted, and was later transferred to Gbagada General Hospital,” she said.

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Providing an update on Friday, Adebisi confirmed that the suspect had been arraigned before the Ogudu Magistrates’ Court and remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

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“The suspect has been arraigned before the Ogudu Magistrates’ Court and remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre,” she said, adding that the matter was adjourned until August 24 for hearing.

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PUNCH Metro had reported that Michael allegedly sexually assaulted the teenager on multiple occasions inside the tutorial centre and threatened her to keep the incidents secret.

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Following reports that the suspect had been hospitalised after collapsing, the founder of the DOHS Cares Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that combats gender-based violence and monitors femicide cases, Ololade Ajayi, called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure the suspect did not evade justice.

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