An Osogbo Magistrates’ court has remanded a 68-year-old retired school principal, Ayodele Faremi, at Correctional Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old-girl.
Faremi was charged with three-count- charges bordering on rape, sexual exploitation and assault.
The charge against him read that: ”You, Ayodele Faremi, on September 13, 2022, at about 9:00 a.m. at Dele Yes Sir area, Osogbo, did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with one Korope Rose (not real name), aged 10 years, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 31(1)(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Osun State, 2007.
“You, Ayodele Faremi, on the same date, time and place, did unlawfully take undue advantage of one Korope Rose, aged 10 years and sexually exploited her and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 32 of the Child’s Right Law of Osun State, 2007.
“You (defendant) did unlawfully and indecently assault one Korope Rose, aged 10 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 360 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”
When the matter was brought before Magistrate A. O. Odeleye, Faremi was re-arraigned, but his plea was not taken on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.
Odeleye directed the police prosecutor, John Idoko, to forward the defendant’s case file to the Department of Public Prosecution in the state.
Faremi would be spending the coming Christmas and New Year celebrations in prison custody as the case was adjourned till January 17, 2023.
The suspect was arrested by the men of the Dada Estate Police Station, Osogbo, following a complaint lodged by some members of the public.
The suspect, who resides at Hallelujah Estate in Osogbo, was said to have defiled the girl.
He was alleged to have taken advantage of the minor twice in May and once in August 2022.
According to one of the victim’s family members, Faremi was caught sometime in September while taking advantage of the minor.
It was learnt that the retired secondary school principal usually gave a pill to the under-aged girl to take each time they met.
The Guardian gathered that pressure was mounting on the victim’s family to conceal the incident, but some of her relatives insisted on getting justice.
Faremi was reportedly arrested by the police through the effort of a civil society organisation led by Citizen Lola Wey.
(GUARDIAN)
