By Charity Michael

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An Akure Magistrates’ Court has discharged a man, Akeem Tijani, over allegations of indecent assault on a four-year old child.

Tijani, who had been in police custody since April 16, 2025, was arraigned in court on April 29, 2025.

During the hearing, the mother of the victim told the court that her 4-year old daughter (name withheld), had gone out to play near her shop, but later returned and reported that a man (the defendant) had carried her and touched her “bumbum,” using the child’s own words.

The prosecuting counsel, Augustine Omenime, described the alleged act as indecent assault, stating that the defendant had allegedly assaulted the child.

When asked to give his account, the defendant, Tijani, who behaved as if he was not in his right frame of mind and spoke in Yoruba, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He explained that he had only carried the child out of goodwill and denied indecent touch.

The defence counsel, Mr Bernard Godwin, appealed to the court to reconsider the credibility of the child’s testimony, noting her age and the potential for misinterpretation.

Father of the child,

Mr. Olasukanmi Sanni, informed the court that after the defendant was arrested, the police directed them to conduct a medical examination on the child.

According to him, the medical report showed no sign of penetration, confirming that the child had not been raped.

He added that after considering the situation, he and his wife decided to drop the case.

The defence counsel again pleaded with the court to consider the parents’ willingness to withdraw the case.

He described the defendant as someone who may be ignorant of appropriate behavior and in need of proper orientation on how to interact with children, especially girls.

He added that the defendant had  learnt his lesson and would be more cautious in future interactions.

He further appealed to the court, emphasising that we are in a friendly and jovial society where children often approach adults innocently. He noted that the victim’s parents had chosen to forgive the defendant.

When the father of the girl, Mr. Sanni was called to the witness stand to state his final decision, he said.

“I am telling the court now that I withdraw from this case. I don’t want to pursue it because the doctor confirmed there was no penetration, and the man (defendant) seems not to be normal,” he said.

However, the Magistrates, Taiwo Lebi, emphasised the seriousness of the allegation, stating that the alleged Act was in violation of Sections 32 and 33 of the Child Protection Law.

He subsequently dismissed the case based on unsubstantiated evidence.