Court summons police officer over defilement of 13-year-old visually-impaired girl

Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, yesterday, summoned a female police Inspector, Mercy Douglas, to appear in an ongoing trial of self-acclaimed Prophet, Olushola Akinsipe, over alleged defilement of a 13-year-old visually-impaired girl.

The summon followed the non-appearance of the officer attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, to give evidence as the last prosecution witness in the matter.

The defendant, Akinsipe was alleged to have committed the offence when the teenager was taken to him for a spiritual cleansing for witchcraft allegation.

However, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. O.O Azeez, at the scheduled continuation of the trial, told the court that their last witness, Mercy Douglas, was not in court to testify and that they reached out to her, but she did not respond.

Subsequently, the counsel urged the court to summon the witness to court in suit No. ID/14716C/21.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Kolade Obafemi, did not object to the application to summon the police officer.

The judge, consequently, issued the summons and adjourned the case to May 10, 2023, for continuation of trial.