A Lagos State Magistrate Court in Ikeja has taken action against Darlington Ezenwa, a suspected rapist accused of defiling a 13-year-old girl. The court ordered his remand pending legal advice.
Ezenwa was brought before the court by the Nigeria Police on charges of conspiracy and defilement. Due to the gravity of the offense, Magistrate Mrs. E. Kubeinje did not allow the defendant to enter a plea.
The magistrate directed the police to make copies of the case file and send it to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution for legal guidance.
Expressing her disapproval of the alarming incidence of rape involving minors, Magistrate Kubeinje adjourned the case until July 6 for further proceedings.
During the arraignment, the prosecuting officer, ASP Kehinde Ajayi, informed the court that on April 8, the defendant, along with an accomplice named Ebuka (currently at large), committed the offenses at Ajao estate in Lagos.
Ajayi alleged that Ezenwa was caught in the act of having sexual intercourse with the minor, whom he enticed into his room and violated without her consent.
The prosecutor emphasized that the defendant’s actions were likely to cause a breach of peace by engaging in sexual activities with the minor.
The offenses committed by Ezenwa are in violation of Sections 137 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
