A bricklayer and choirmaster, Adewale Babalola, who
allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old chorister in his
church, was on Thursday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in
Lagos.
The accused, 36, who lives at No. 11, Maxwell Ijeh St.,
Aguda in Surulere area of Lagos, is facing a charge of unlawful sexual
intercourse.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, the accused
committed the offence on Dec. 2, 2014 at his apartment.
He said the accused took undue advantage of his relationship
with the teenager as her choirmaster at Christ Our Light Glory Church, Sanya in
Surulere, to commit the crime.
“The girl told her father, who is also an evangelist in the
church that the accused lured her into his room and forcefully had a carnal
knowledge of her.
“The father reported the matter to the General Overseer of
the church, but no action was taken which compelled the victim’s father to
report the matter at the police station,” Anyanwu said.
The offence, Anyanwu noted, violated Section 137 of the
Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Babalola, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Soladoye, directed that the
case file should be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for
legal advice.
Section 137 prescribes life imprisonment for child rape.
The magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,
000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to June 29 for DPP’s
advice.(NAN)
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