Man remanded in custody over alleged defilement of minor

The Ikeja Sexual Offence and Domestic Violence Court has remanded Gabriel Ogbonnaya in the Nigerian Correctional Service for allegedly defiling a seven-year-old girl.

Ogbonnaya appeared before Justice Abiola Soladoye, who remanded him after he entered his plea.

The defendant is facing charges of unlawful sexual assault and defilement of a child, brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

The alleged offences occurred between February 2022 and February 2023 at No 2 Abose Street in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State.

According to the state prosecution counsel, Olusola Soneye, the defendant sexually assaulted the victim by inappropriately touching her vagina with his hands and defiled her by penetrating her vagina with his penis.

These actions are in violation of Sections 263 and 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

Following his non-guilty plea, Justice Soladoye ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending his bail application.

She adjourned the case till January 17, 2023, for the commencement of trial.