By Bartholomew Madukwe
A SURULERE Magistrate Court sitting in  Lagos has remanded a 56-year old man (names withheld) in Kirikiri prison for allegedly inserting his fingers into the private part of a three-year old girl.  Both the man said to be a grandfather and the little live in the same block in Masha area of Surulere.

He however pleaded not guilty to the one-cunt charge.  The mother of the child who was visibly angry said,  “It is  the usual character of the old papa, and he is not willing to turn a new leaf. On the fateful day, which was the 41st day after my husband’s death, I was looking for my daughter when one of my neighbour’s daughters told me that she was inside daddy’s (the accused’s) room.

I stood at the old papa’s door calling on my daughter only for the accused to suddenly opened the door and pushed her out with her pant half-way down and she crying and saying, ‘’my bum-bum, my bum bum’’

It was gathered that when the matter was reported at Bode Thomas Division in Surulere, the police got the suspect arrested, following allegations that the suspect has been practicing same with other children.  The accused claimed to be a staff of Mushin Local Government.

Meanwhile, when the little girl was taken to hospital for examination, reports confirmed she was sexually assaulted.  Further hearing into the matter has been adjourned to July 3,  2012.

In a related development, a Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos has remanded a 29-year old man, Ime Titus, in prison custody for allegedly raping and killing his 19-year-old in-law  identified as Blessing Monday.

Magistrate Salama Matepo has referred the case to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for advice but ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody pending the advice.  Mr. Ime was accused of having used a piece of wood on the head  of the victim before he proceeded to rape her on March 11, 2012, at Ilamija Village Farm, Epe.  The offence contravenes sections 258 and 221 of the state’s criminal code.

The charge reads in part:  “That you, Titus, on the said date, time and place killed Monday by hitting her with a wood in the head and thereby committed an offence punishable under the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2011.”  The matter has been adjourned to May 24, 2012 pending DPP’s advice.