Metro
Five Teens Rape Eight-Year-Old Girl, Remanded after Punch Report
Five teenagers who were accused of raping an eight-year-old girl on Adepeju Street, in the Bariga area of Lagos State in November 2022, have been remanded in custody by a Yaba Magistrates’ court.
According to the victim’s father, Abel Asuquo, the case was adjourned till February 10, 2023.
PUNCH Metro had earlier reported that the primary four pupil was defiled at different times by her teenage neighbours.
The police were reported to have arrested the suspects, but later released them without charges.
The victim’s father told our correspondent that after the report, the police re-arrested the suspects and took them to court.
He said a magistrate ordered one of the suspects, aged 18, and identified as Lateef to be remanded in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, while others: Ebube, Ade, Sherif, and Kamal, were sent to a juvenile centre in Ogun State.
However, Asuquo said the Investigating Police Officer from the Bariga Police Station asked him to provide a vehicle to transport the defendants to the remand centres.
He said, “We went to court on Friday, thanks to the report by PUNCH newspapers because after that report, the Bariga policemen had no other option than to arraign the boys in court after PUNCH revealed the matter to the world.
“The parents of one of the boys used his car to bring all the suspects to the magistrates’ court at Yaba and after the whole thing, the magistrate recommended that Lateef, the oldest among them, should be remanded at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre.
“The magistrate also recommended that the others, who are under 18, should be sent to a correctional centre in Ogun State, though I don’t know the place. Meanwhile, in all this, the Bariga police told me to provide them with a vehicle to take the suspects to the Ikoyi centre and the juvenile centre in Ogun State.”
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has confirmed the ban on the public parade of criminal suspects by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
This follows an earlier directive by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), prohibiting the practice.
The PUNCH had exclusively reported that the AGF had ordered the police to desist from parading suspects.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, reaffirmed the police chief’s commitment to upholding fundamental human rights and aligning with global best practices in policing.
“IGP Kayode Egbetokun has reiterated the ban on the public parade of suspects by the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force. This commitment by the IGP aims to uphold the fundamental human rights of every citizen and adhere to global best practices in policing by reiterating the standing directive prohibiting the public parade of criminal suspects before formal charges are filed in a court of law,” Adejobi stated.
He noted that the directive had previously been communicated to all police commands and zones as part of the force’s modernization efforts and dedication to respecting the rights of all individuals, including criminal suspects.
According to Adejobi, the policy aligns with international human rights standards, which prioritize the protection of human dignity throughout the judicial process.
Adejobi also called on the media and the public to support the directive by ensuring responsible reporting and ethical journalism.
He said, “This directive, previously communicated to all commands and zones within the Police Force, is a cornerstone of the Nigeria Police Force’s modernization efforts and reflects its dedication to respecting the fundamental rights of all individuals, including those suspected of criminal activity.
” The IGP emphasized that this policy is aligned with international human rights standards, which prioritize the protection and preservation of the dignity and rights of individuals throughout the judicial process.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to operating within the bounds of the law and promoting a culture of respect for human rights among its personnel. The IGP seeks the understanding and cooperation of the public, particularly members of the media, in adhering to this directive. Responsible reporting and adherence to ethical journalistic practices are vital in maintaining public trust and ensuring a fair and impartial justice system that respects the rights and dignity of all individuals.”
The Punch
The Lagos State Police Command has sealed off a church at the centre of a chilling murder investigation following the suspected killing of a 28-year-old Lagos State University (LASU) graduate, Adedamola Ogunbode.
The sealed premises is the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Oluwa Parish, in the Ojo area of the State.
Spokesperson of the police command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the sealing of the Church on Monday, while addressing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.
According to Hundeyin, the Church, believed to be the scene of the gruesome crime, was sealed off to prevent it from being set ablaze by enraged members of the public.
“We received intelligence reports indicating that some people were planning to burn down the church in retaliation. We cannot allow that to happen. The location remains a crucial crime scene, and we may need to revisit it multiple times to gather further evidence,” Hundeyin stated.
The police have already taken three suspects into custody, including the church’s pastor, while a manhunt has been launched for five others.
Alarmingly, two of the wanted individuals are believed to have fled to neighbouring Benin Republic, further deepening the mystery surrounding the case.
The Lagos Police Command had initially declared Ogunbode a missing person. However, in a disturbing turn of events, investigators uncovered damning financial transactions that pointed to something far more sinister. Funds had been suspiciously moved from the victim’s account into those of the suspects, leading the police to reclassify the case as a suspected murder.
“We have intensified efforts to locate the victim’s body and uncover the full circumstances surrounding his tragic death,” Hundeyin assured.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has vowed that justice will be served.
“The command is fully committed to getting to the root of this heinous crime and ensuring that all those involved are brought to justice. However, we urge the public to remain calm and allow investigators to do their job without interference,” he stated.
A member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Lolo Isaiah Opuende, has dismissed an invitation from Governor Siminialayi Fubara for a crucial meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday.
In an online video, Opuende stated that it was time for the governor to “dey his dey” (be on his own) while the lawmakers would do the same.
Representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, Opuende recalled that when the political crisis began, their principal had warned that a time would come for both sides to go their separate ways.
He also questioned the mode of invitation transmission, arguing that it is not feasible for lawmakers to honor the governor’s request.
“How can you write a letter for the House of Assembly and put it on social media and expect us to come? The governor should write us the proper way,” he insisted.
