Sesan Tianu, 49, a commercial driver accused of sexually molesting the 7-year-old daughter of his neighbour, was arraigned in a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday.
Tianu, who resides at No. 18b, Adetoke St, Bariga area of Lagos, and is standing trial for child rape, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, had said earlier that the accused committed the offence on May 3, around his residence.
He said:
“As his victim was urinating in front of the house, the accused lured her into his parked commercial bus. He inserted his finger in her private part. The raped girl screamed but the accused covered her mouth with his hand and he further penetrated into the girl’s private part. The accused threatened the victim not to tell her mother. The raped girl’s mother noticed blood stain on her pant when bathing her in the night and morning. The little girl told her mother what happened to her and then the case was reported at the Bariga Police Station."
The prosecution submitted that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Soladoye, ordered that the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the case should be sought.
Soladoye granted the accused bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to Aug.1 for the DPP’s advice. It should be noted that the Nigerian constitution prescribes life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of child rape.
