Osun court remands 18-year-old boy for sexually assaulting teenage girl with disability

A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, yesterday remanded an 18-year-old boy, Adole Enoch, in the custodial centre, Osogbo, for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old teenage girl with a disability.

Enoch was arraigned by the police for sexual abuse and assault on the victim, who has an intellectual disability and had been staying with her grandmother since the demise of her mother.

Police prosecutor Temitope Fatoba informed the court that Enoch committed the offence on February 16, at about 9:00 p.m., in the Oke-Baale area of Osogbo, Osun State. He said the crimes were punishable under Sections 358 and 360 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002 and contravened Section 32 of the Child’s Rights Laws of Osun State 2007. Enoch pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his plea, A. Amoo, counsel from the state’s Ministry of Justice, told the court that the ministry would take over the case and urged the court to order the police to hand over the case file to the state for prosecution.

Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted the order, remanded Enoch at the Correctional Centre, and adjourned the case until September 10 for mention.
It was learnt that the girl had entered the toilet to defecate while the grandmother had gone to fetch water for her to flush, but before she could return with the water, Enoch allegedly sneaked into the toilet and forced himself on the girl. He allegedly gagged the girl while sexually assaulting and molesting her.

When the grandmother brought the water, she discovered the victim was making a painful noise. Before she could force the door open, Enoch came out of the toilet while adjusting his trousers.

“I saw the man (Enoch) coming out of the toilet and holding his trousers. He punched me in the face, hit my hands and ran away. I raised the alarm, and neighbours gathered. I could identify the man as one of the persons who lived in this area before he left,” she said. Immediately, the grandmother reported the matter at Dugbe Police Station in Osogbo.

It was gathered that the victim was taken to a hospital for medical examination and treatment with the assistance of a human rights activist, Lola Wey, and other kind-hearted professionals in Osogbo.

A few days after the act, the police arrested some suspects. The girl was invited and was able to point out Enoch. The culprit reportedly confessed to the crime and was detained.