A 47-year-old man, Nwachukwu Silas, who allegedly defiled a four-year-old girl in the toilet, was on Wednesday granted reprieve on the orders of a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
He was released on a bail of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge of child defilement.
But the prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, insisted that the accused committed the offence on April 21 at about 11.20.a.m. at No. 6, Obadeyi Ojo St., Surulere.
She alleged that the accused, who lives in a house not too far from Obadeyi Ojo Street, was fond of coming to use the toilet in the house.
“He came to use the toilet again that morning and he saw the four-year-old girl playing in the lonely compound.
“He took the girl to the bathroom/toilet, removed her pant and was trying to penetrate.
“A neighbour heard the girl’s cry, ran to the toilet and caught the accused in the act,” Osayande told the court.
The offence contravened Sections 263(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu, who granted the bail, said one of the sureties must be a blood relation
of the accused, while the second surety should be a civil servant of not less than Grade Level 14.
She also directed that the sureties to provide an evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The magistrate adjourned the case until July 10. (NAN)