By Sade Adewale, Ondo
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A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town, has ordered the remand of two men in Ondo Correctional Centre, for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor (namewithheld), without her consent.
The police arraigned the duo for molesting the victim and charged them with two counts.
The defendants are; Isaac Paul, 22 and Oscar Ishaku, 28.
Prosecution alleged they committed the offences between March 6, 2023 and June 6, 2023, at Funbi Fagun Crescent, Ondo, contrary to Sections 249(D) and 357 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
The charge read in part;” That you, Isaac Paul and Oscar Ishaku, between March 6, 2023 and June 6, 2023, at Funbi Fagun Crescent Ondo, in the Ondo Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace, by willingly and unlawfully having carnal knowledge of the minor without her consent and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(D) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Law of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
“That you, Isaac Paul, on same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did willingly, unlawfully and forcefully have carnal knowledge of the minor without her consent and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 357 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
The prosecutor, Inspector Gbenga Akinsulire, said the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case based on the nature of the charge.
He, therefore, prayed for the remand of the defendants in correctional centre and transfer of the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O. Ijeh, in her ruling, said the charge has to do with a minor and the court does not have jurisdiction to entertain such matter.
She ordered the remand of the defendants at the correctional facility for 30 days and directed that the case file should be sent to the office of the Court Registrar and also the DPP for advice.
Ijeh adjourned the case till August 16, 2023, for advice.
