An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday remanded a menial worker, Ikechukwu Egbo, at the Ikoyi Prison over the alleged murder of a 12-year-old girl, Bose Ogoja.
The Chief Magistrate, Miss S.O. Solebo, who did not take the plea of the accused, gave the order, pending an advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Richard Odigie, told the court that the crime was committed on December 30, 2013, at Ajara Dokoh in Badagry, near Lagos.
Odigie told the court that the accused allegedly attacked the deceased and dragged her into the defunct Nigeria Telecommunications Office, raped her and strangled her to death.
“The accused (allegedly) ran away when he noticed the girl was dead. The complainant called in the police and the accused was arrested,” Odigie said.
He said that the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Section 221 provides that any person who commits murder shall be sentenced to death.
The court adjourned the case till April 11 for mention.
In a related development, a 20-year-old man, John Peter charged with assaulting and defiling a seven-year-old girl also appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Peter, a trader, who resides at No 16, Kushimo Street Ikotun, Lagos, was alleged to have defiled the minor at about 2pm on February 15, 2014, in his apartment.
The prosecutor, Insp. Richard Odigie, told the court that the accused and parents of the girl were neighbours in the same building
