Lanlord accused of defiling 7-yr-old tenant’s daughter gets N2m bail

A Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday slammed a N2m bail on a landlord charged with defiling his tenant’s seven-year-old daughter.

The accused, John Ogunsola, 40, who resides at 61, Olatunde St., Oke Ira, Ogba, Lagos, is standing trial on a count.

He, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Yewande Aje-Afunwa, who noted that the offence could attract life imprisonment, ordered that Ogunsola should also provide two sureties in like sum.

“The sureties must own residential property in Lagos State, be recognised community or religious leaders. They must show evidence of tax payment and gainful employment,” she directed.

The chief magistrate added that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused.

She adjourned the case to July 7 for hearing.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Peter Nwangwu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 27 at his residence.

He said the accused took advantage of the minor and sexually assaulted her.

“Ogunsola had, on the fateful day, called the minor to purchase a bottle of Pepsi drink for him. When she arrived with the drink, he told her to bring it to him in his room.

“He then indecently assaulted her by inserting his finger into her private part,” the prosecutor said.

Nwangwu said that investigations revealed that Ogunsola had defiled the child on four previous occasions.

He said a tenant in the compound, in whom the child confided, alerted the girl’s mother to the defilement.

Nwangwu said Ogunsola was arrested after the matter was reported to the police.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

(NAN)