By Onozure Dania

Lagos—Magistrate A. Adebowale of an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, yesterday, remanded two men in prison custody, pending advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, over alleged defilement of two 13-year-old girls.

She said that the court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain the case and advised the defendants’ counsel to write to the High Court, which has the power to hear the case.

The two defendants, Innocent Agbidi, 30, a driver, and Lateef Adeleke, 27, were docked before the court for allegedly raping two teenagers, aged 13.

Agbidi and Adeleke are facing a three-count charge of unlawful defilement preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Ajaga Agboko, told the court that Agbidi committed the alleged offence sometime in August at 11.40a. m., at Road 45, House G142 Victoria Garden City, Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos State.

He said that the defendant raped the 13-year-old girl (names withheld), whose aunt employed him as driver.

Agboko also said that Adeleke, an Okada rider, also raped a 13-year-old girl (names withheld).

He said: “Lateef Adeleke, on September 12, at 4p.m., at Oja Oba Market, Lagos Island, raped a girl aged 13.”

He added that the offence is punishable under Sections 137 and 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The defendants both denied the allegations.

However, the defendants’ counsel, Darnell Abbe and Emmanuel Ubanney, urged the court to grant the defendants bail in the most liberal terms, but the magistrate declined, saying that the court does not have the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

“Since this court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain this matter, I hereby remand the defendants to prison custody,” she said.

The magistrate ordered that the case file be duplicated and forwarded to DPP, and adjourned the case till October 5, for mention.