Man in court for allegedly raping 15-year-old step daughter

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded in prison Solomon Emeruwa, 34, for allegedly raping his 15-year-old step daughter.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, ordered that the accused be remanded inKirikiri Prison and adjourned the case till Feb. 29 for bail application.

Emeruwa, a trader, of No.13, Africa Road, Ifako Ijaiye, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of rape and assault.

The prosecutor, Insp. Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the offences were committed between 2013 and Feb. 8, 2016 in the residence of the accused.

Aigbokhan said Emeruwa is the step father of the 15-year-old victim, who lives with him and her mother.

“One of their neighbours heard the victim crying at midnight and suspected something must be going on. She then called the victim in the morning to ask her about it.

“The victim narrated how the accused defiled her when she was 12 years old and since then, had continued to have his way with her,’’ Aigbokhan said.

The prosecutor also told the court that the victim told her mother, who is a wife to the accused but she instructed her not to tell anyone.

“The victim’s mother had travelled out of town when the accused raped the girl again on Feb. 8, and when she resisted him, he beat her with a stick,’’ Aigbokhan said.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 168 and 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.