Ayodele Popoola

An Akure Family Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered that a 35-year-old herb seller, Taiwo Mufutau, be remanded in Olokuta Correctional Centre for allegedly engaging in unlawful sexual relationship with his eight-year-old daughter.

Magistrate B.A. Alipohul who  did not take the plea  of the defendant for lack of jurisdiction held that there were probable  reasons to remand the defendant at  correctional centre.

Mufutau was  dragged to court by the police and arraigned on  one-count charge of rape.

Police prosecutor, Martins Olowofeso, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in his residence.

The charge sheet reads: “That you, Taiwo Mufutau, 35, male, on June 5, 2024, at about 4:pm at No. 40 Egbe-Road, Ayedun Quarters, Akure, did have carnal knowledge of your daughter, (name withheld), female, aged 8 years old, of the same address, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25(a) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2021.”

According to Olowofeso, Taiwo and his wife ran away from their house after the crime and went to Osun State to obtain a fake doctor’s report claiming that nothing happened to the girl.

Olowofeso further told the court that the Police Investigating Officer(IPO), conducted another test in Akure, which revealed that there was penetration and the girl had been bleeding for three days.

The prosecutor told the court that the defendant had confessed to the  crime during questioning by the investigating officer.

Olowofeso, therefore, urged the court to remand the defendant at Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions, DPP.

Defence counsel, G.O. Omoedu, prayed the court to commit his client to bail in a liberal term. He claimed Taiwo was innocent of the alleged offence.

 Magistrate Alipohul remanded the defendant pending an advice from the DPP.

The matter was adjourned till August 2024 for mention..