An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate Court, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of a 70-year-old man, Sule Adeola, in the correctional centre in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl.
The defendant, whose address was not provided, is being tried for alleged rape.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Olubu Apata, told the court that the septuagenarian committed the offence between March and June 2023 in the State capital, Ado-Ekiti.
Quoting the victim’s statement to the police, Apata said: “My mother is late, while my father resides at Abeokuta. I am staying with my grandmother in Ekiti.
“I know the defendant, he is our neighbour. Anytime my grandmother sent me on an errand, he will call me to his room and remove my pant and insert his penis in my vagina.
“I usually feel pain anytime he is doing it, but he always warned me not to tell anybody because he will beat me and I will die.”
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 31 (2) of the Child Right Law of Ekiti State.
He urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional centre, pending legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The plea of the defendant was, however, not taken.
The Chief Magistrate, Kehinde Awosika, ordered the remand of the 70-year-old man in the correctional centre, pending the issuance of legal advice.
Awosika, therefore, adjourned the case toJuly 10, 2023, for mention.