The accused’s names were listed as
Emmanuel Abiola (64) a.k.a. Old Soldier, Mohammed Sanni (35), Kabiru
Mohammed (25), Sakiru Sokoto (20), Eze Ndubuisi (26), Mohammed Sefiu
(21) and Mohammed Bashir (20).
In a suit with number MI/1516C/2013, the accused persons were said to
have “conspired together to commit felony to wit defilement, contrary to
and punishable under section 516 of the criminal code cap 38 vol. 2
laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.”
The second count charge read that the accused “did have unlawful
carnal knowledge of one (names withheld) (13) and thereby committed an
offence contrary to and punishable under section 218 of the criminal
code cap 38 vol. 2 laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.”
After the charges were read and the accused confirmed that they
understood the charges, the Magistrate sitting at Court 4, Mrs. Kehinde
Durosaro-Tijani ordered their remand at Agodi prisons and adjourned the
case till January 27.
The victim’s guardian, Madam Sikiratu Akinbode (60), who resides at
Yanbule Basorun, Ashi area, was said to have reported the case at Ashi
police station and the Divisional Police Officer, Mr Seyi Williams,
reportedly sent a team of detectives to the area and the seven suspects
were picked.
It was learnt that the victim, a 13-year-old Primary 3 pupil, was
brought to her guardian by her teacher who noticed her dirty uniform
after she suddenly disappeared from class.
When examined, semen was said to have been found in the girl’s private part.
When probed, the girl confessed that some men had been having sex with her. She revealed that five of them who were Hausa used to give her N20 each. Same went for Old Soldier and Ndubuisi.
The guardian of the young girl said that when she was first informed
that her niece had sex with several men when she was sent to fetch
water, she did not take it serious, until her teacher brought her home.
However, one of the suspects, Ndubuisi denied involvement, saying
that he only heard that Old Soldier used to have sex with the girl,
after which he would give her N20. “I don’t know why my name was
mentioned, though I wrote in my statement that I had sex with her once
,with the belief that I would be released if I said so,” Ndubuisi said.
Pa Abiola a.k.a. Old Soldier also denied having sex with the
teenager, saying that she was his granddaughter’s age. When asked why
the girl pointed at him among all the men in the area, in addition to
what Ndubuisi said transpired some days before his arrest, the man said
he could not understand.
The other accused men also denied the girl’s claim, saying that she
was just mentioning the names of any man she saw on the day the police
came to the area.