Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, December 04, 2017
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – A 47-year-old man, Emmanuel Kalu, was today arraigned before a magistrate court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for allegedly defiling and impregnating his 16 year old daughter.
Kalu who resides at Olowolagba, Iwaya Lagos, is facing one count charge of defilement. ASP Simeon Inhonwa(Prosecutor) told the court that the defendant committed the offence in his residence in 2014.
Inhonwa said that the defendant had been unlawfully having carnal knowledge of his daughter since 2014 till October 2017, contrary to section 137 of Lagos State Criminal law, 2015.
“The girl who is pregnant said it is the father who put her in the family way. The case was reported to the police by a relative but the police has also informed the court that the family has approached them to withdraw the matter from the court. The family said the father was not responsible for the victim’s pregnancy and that the daughter only lied on the father because of the disagreement in the family,” he told the court.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty. Magistrate, Mrs Bunmi Osunsanmi granted the defendant bail in the sum of 400,000 with two sureties in like sum. Sureties must include a blood relation with a verifiable address and must be able to show evidence of tax payments to Lagos State government.
Osunsanmi said the court is not a market place where you can withdraw matter anyhow.
“If the family have decided to withdraw the case, they ought to have done that before it gets here. The matter will go on as scheduled, they can thereafter bring a letter of withdraw to the prosecution if they so wish.” She ruled. The matter was thereafter adjourned Feb. 26, 2018 for commencement of trial.
