BENCH WARRANT ISSUED AS CHILD DEFILER, WHO PUTS GIRL IN FAMILY WAY DISAPPEARS FROM COURTROOM

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – There was mild drama in the premises of a Domestic Violence and Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja when a defendant, Edwin Igbafe, due for arraignment in a child defilement case suddenly dissappared from the court. Igbafe, a 31-year-old teacher, was to be arraigned for defiling and impregnating his 16-year-old student (name withheld) in 2015, contrary to section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. When the case was called, Igbafe who was on bail was no where to be found. 

The development jolted State Prosecutor, Ms I. Solarin and she started scanning faces in the courtroom. She was practically shaking when she faced the court and said: My lord, I saw Igbafe and his mother in court and even spoke with them before proceedings started,” she said. 

Igbafe also did not have any legal representation in court. Following the development,  a furious Justice Sybil Nwaka,  ordered that the courthouse be searched for the runaway defendant. Mr Gbenga Alagbe, a member of the prosecution team, went to search the premises for Igbafe and his mother while Justice Nwaka stood down the case to hear other cases. When Mr Alagbe returned he informed Justice Nwaka that he had searched all the nooks and crannies of  the courthouse and could not find the defendant.  Upon hearing this, Justice Nwaka revoked Igbafe’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest. 

“In view of the absence of the defendant,  a bench warrant is issued and his sureties must show cause,” the judge said. According to the charge sheet,  Igbafe committed the offence in September 2014 at No. 6, Adeola St., Ijesha,  Surulere,  Lagos.  He allegedly defiled his 16-year-old student by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.  Igbafe’s alleged sexual encounter with the underage student resulted in a pregnancy. 

Justice Nwaka adjourned the case until May 15 for arraignment.