By Ayodele Popoola
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A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure has ordered the remand of a 30-year-old man, Lekan Ajayi, who allegedly defiled a 17-year-old, at the Olokuta Correctional Centre.
Ajayi was arrested after the victim’s mother reported the case to the Amotekun Corps. He was charged to court on a three-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse, indecent assault, and assault occasioning bodily harm.
Earlier, the state counsel, O. F. Akeredolu told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 7, 2024, at his residence in Abiodun Street, Oke-Aro, Akure.
Akeredolu alleged that the defendant had unlawful sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old girl,(name withheld).
The defendant on the same day was also said to have intentionally and indecently assaulted the victim and caused her serious physical injury which landed her in the hospital.
According to the charge, the offence contravened Sections 31(1) of the Ondo State Child Rights Laws, 2007, and Section 4 (2) (b) of the state Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant at the correctional centre, pending the issuance of advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In the defendant’s statement, he confessed to have been dating the victim since five years ago and that his action was consensual.
He also said he had sent N60,000 to the victim’s sister for her treatment.
Magistrate Sekoni, who did not take the plea of Ajayi, ordered his remand.
“Having carefully considered both the submission of the prosecution and the defence counsel and with the defendant the confessional statement, I have no hesitation that there is a probable cause to remand the defendant,”the magistrate noted.
Sekoni ordered the remand of the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending the issuance of advice from the DPP.
The case has been adjourned till July 12 for mention.