By Kayode Olabanji
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A 29-year-old man, Oyedeji Dawood, has been remanded at Olokuta prison custody by an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly having  carnal knowledge of a minor.

The defendant was brought before Chief Magistrate Victoria Bob-manuel on a two- count charge of assault and rape.

According to the prosecution, Dawood allegedly had carnal knowledge of the girl (names witheld) at about 01.00pm at the Federal School of Agriculture premises in Akure, on October 13, 2018.

The accused was also alleged to have unlawful and indecently assaulted her on the same date, time and place by touching her breast, private part and thereafter slept on her body.

The alleged offence was said to contravene Section 218,360 of the Criminal Code cap 37 Vol.1 laws of Ondo state Nigeria, 2006.

The plea of the defendant was not taken.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Suleiman Abdulateef, urged the court to remand the accused person in Olokuta prison custody.

He said it would enable the court send the duplicate of the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution(DPP), for legal advice, since the court has no jurisdiction over the case.

He prayed the court for an adjournment pending the outcome of the legal advice from the DPP’s office.

Counsel to the defendant, Barrister O. O Adedire, opposed the remand application made by the prosecutor. She said the application was  supposed to come with application on notice

She urged the court to discountenance the prosecutor’s application for remand.

In her ruling, the presiding  magistrate,  Mrs Victoria Bob-manuel, ordered the remand of the accused person in Olokuta prison custody pending the Issuance of the legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecution(DPP).

She said both the original and the duplicate of the case file should be handed over to the court clerk by the prosecutor.

The clerk of the court was mandated to dispatch the original case file to the Chief Registrar, Ondo State judiciary for safe keeping. He was also directed to send the duplicate of the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), for legal advice without delay.

She, therefore, adjourned the case till November 19, 2018 for mention.