Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja has remanded a 40-year-old man, Emeka Ani, in the custody of the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly raping his five-year-old niece.
Justice Soladoye ordered that Ani be kept behind bars after he was arraigned by the state government on a one-count charge of sexual assault of a minor contrary to section 261 of the Criminal Law, Cap C.17, vol 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The prosecutor, Frank Oladiran, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on January 21, 2025, at the Ijegun area of Lagos.
According to the evidence attached to the charge, Ani was living with his brother in Ijegun when the alleged offence was committed.
It was alleged that on that day, the survivor’s father inquired about her whereabouts when she was not at home. This prompted the mother to search for her, and she was eventually found outside with her husband’s brother.
It was also claimed that the survivor was crying and told her mother that the defendant (referred to as ‘brother’ or “teacher”) had been touching her and had warned her not to reveal it to anyone.
When the parents confronted him, he denied the allegation, leading them to report the matter to the police.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Based on his plea, the prosecutor told the judge he had eight witnesses in the case and requested the court to set a trial date.
The judge has adjourned the matter to April 3 for trial.