A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital has ordered the remand of an 18-year-old boy, Adole Enoch, for allegedly raping a 14-year-old teenage girl with disability.
It was gathered that the victim, who has intellectual disability and staying with her grandmother since the demise of her mother, was at home at Oke-Baale area, Osogbo, capital of Osun State when Enoch invaded their home and allegedly committed the crime.
Enoch was said to have spied on the grandmother and the victim before carrying out the act.
It was learnt that the girl had entered the toilet to defecate while the grandmother had gone to fetch water for her to flush but before she could return with the water, Enoch allegedly sneaked into the toilet and forced himself on the girl.
He allegedly gagged the girl while raping and molesting her.
When the grandmother brought the water, she discovered that the victim was already making a painful noise and before she could force the door open, Enoch came out of the toilet while adjusting his trousers.
“I saw the man (Enoch) coming out of the toilet and holding his trousers. He punched me on the face, hit my hands and ran away. I raised the alarm and neighbours gathered. I was able to identify the man as one of the persons who had lived in this area before he left,” she said.
Immediately, the grandmother reported the matter at Dugbe Police Station in Osogbo.
The Point gathered that with the assistance of a human rights activist, Citizen Lola Wey and some other kind professionals in Osogbo, the victim was taken to the hospital for medical examination and drugs were purchased for her.
Few days after the act, the Police arrested some suspects and the girl was invited to identify the person that raped her.
She was able to point to Enoch and the culprit was reported to have confessed to the crime, hence, his detainment at the custody.
When Enoch was eventually arraigned, the police charged him for unlawful rape and assault.
“That you Adole Enoch, on the 16th day of February, 2024 at about 9:00pm at Oke-Baale area, Osogbo, Osun State, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did unlawfully raped one Little Ramat (not real name) aged 14 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“You did unlawfully take undue advantage of one Little Ramat ‘f’ aged 14 years and sexually exploited her, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 32 of the Child’s Rights Laws of Osun State 2007.
“That you did unlawfully and indecently assault one Little Ramat ‘f’ aged 14 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 360 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002,” the charge read.
Enoch pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
A counsel from the state Ministry of Justice, A. Amoo, told the court that the ministry would be taking over the case and urged the court to order the police to hand over the case file to the state for prosecution.
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted the order and remanded Enoch to the Correctional Centre. The matter was adjourned till September 10 for mention.
