Gardener rapes 10-year-old pupil in Lagos

The police have arrested a gardener, Godswill David, for allegedly defiling a primary 3 pupil in the Ikota Housing Estate, Lagos State.

It was learnt that the victim lived in the same house with David.

The house was said to be owned by the suspect’s father.

Our correspondent learnt that on the fateful day, 20-year-old David asked the victim to fetch him a sachet of detergent.Continue...

The victim was said to be searching for the detergent when the suspect followed her into the room and forcibly undressed and raped her.

While the act was on, the victim screamed for help, while the suspect’s stepmother rushed into the room and allegedly met David on top of the little girl.

She was said to have turned back and shut the door.

David allegedly threatened the victim that she would die if she told anyone what transpired between them.

Our correspondent gathered that on the following day, the victim was sleeping when David again attempted to have carnal knowledge of her.

She was said to have ran out and told her ordeal to an aunt, who in turn narrated the incident to her parents.

The matter was reported at the police station, leading to David’s arrest.

A police source told PUNCH Metro the victim had been taken to a hospital where she went through some medical tests.

“The result showed that the hymen was no longer intact,” he said.

The matter was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, from where the suspect was arraigned on one count of unlawful defilement.

The Akwa Ibom State indigene was arraigned on Monday before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The charge reads, “That you, Godswill David Jnr, on October 9, 2014, at about 2pm, at Ikota Housing Estate, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with a minor, 10 years.”

The police prosecutor, DSP Etim Nkankuk, said the offence was punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

David said he was not guilty of the offence and elected summary trial.

His defence counsel, Beauty Otigih, applied for his bail in liberal terms.

The Chief Magistrate, A.A. Demi-Ajayi, admitted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned to January 19, 2015.