Court orders apprentice flogged for raping minor

A mild drama occurred at a Family Magistrates’ Court sitting in Oke-Eda, Akure, Ondo State, when a 17-year-old apprentice, Sunday Emmanuel, arraigned for defiling a minor was ordered to be flogged in the courtroom by the trial magistrate.

Magistrate Folashade Aduroja ordered that the apprentice be given some strokes of cane for committing such heinous crime against a three-year-old girl.

Aduroja, thereafter, ordered the remand of the defendant at the Ondo State Juvenile Remand’s Home, pending the issuance of advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP.

Sunday, who was brought to court on a one count charge of having carnal knowledge of the child, allegedly raped the three-year-old daughter of his neighbour.

The defendant allegedly committed the offence between 12a.m., and 4a.m., on June 24, 2023, at Otuntungunwa Street, Danjuma area in Akure metropolis.

Police prosecutor, Martins Olowofeso,  informed the court that the defendant had carnal knowledge of the minor in her room many times.

Olowofeso alleged that the defendant usually sneaks into his neighbour’s apartment in the midnight and forcefully had carnal knowledge of the victim.

The offence, he said, contravened Section 218 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State Nigeria, 2006.

The victim claimed the defendant had carnal knowledge of her many times whenever he entered their room.

However, the defendant told the court that he only had carnal knowledge of the victim three times.

Sunday, however, blamed the devil for his act.

Police prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in custody pending advice from the DPP.

The trial magistrate, Aduroja, thereafter, adjourned the case till September 5 for advice from the DPP.