13th October, 2016
A 50-year-old man, Suleman Buhari, who is charged with raping a 13-year-old girl in a Lagos Island market, is to remain behind bars indefinitely, a court has ruled.
An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling, denied the accused bail even after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
He was ordered to be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.
The Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Ogunbowale, asked the accused to approach a competent court of jurisdiction High Court for bail.
She directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
The accused, who resides at Shop 50, Ojaoba Market (named after the traditional ruler) on the island, is being tried for unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual assault.
Earlier, Police Prosecutor Ajaga Agboko said the accused committed the offence of rape on Oct. 5 in the market.
“The accused unlawfully had a carnal knowledge of the girl in the market.’’
The offences contravened Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The case has been adjourned to Nov. 9 for DPP’s advice.