Court refuses bail to alleged child rapist

AN Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Wednesday refused the bail application filed by a man, Chinonso Kalu, charged with defiling a 10-year-old girl.

The defendant, who was arraigned sometime in Nov. 2017 on a count charge of defilement, filed the bail application through his lawyer, Mrs Victoria Ubong.

Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, who refused the bail, said that the defendant failed to provide credible facts before the court.

“The court has always exercised its discretion while granting bail but the nature and gravity of this offence is to be taken into consideration.

“The defendant’s affidavit shows that he has no credible sureties, the affidavit also failed to provide any credible facts before this court.

“Some paragraphs of the affidavit provides falsehood against this court. Therefore, the application has failed and is hereby refused,’’ she said.

Ogunsanya, however, adjourned the case until July 10, for trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant was first arraigned sometime in April 2017 at the magistrates’ court and was remanded in prison.

However, the case was transferred to the high court following the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Prosecutor, Mr Adebayo Haroun, had said that the defendant committed the alleged offence on March 23, 2016, at No. 1, Malomo Close, Pen Cinema, Agege, Lagos where he allegedly defiled a 10-year-old girl.

“The accused had sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old girl, which contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,’’ Haroun said.

The defendant had denied the charge.