The Sam-Ilori Magistrate Court 2, Ogba, has struck out the case involving a 16-year-old boy accused of defiling a 7-year-old girl and engaging in an incestuous relationship with his 12-year-old sister.
The ruling followed advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, which stated that the accused “has no case to answer.”
The decision has sparked outrage among child rights advocates, who insist that justice has been compromised.
“This is very ridiculous. If he didn’t have a case to answer, who then abused the victim?” asked a representative of the Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN). “Medical reports confirmed the young girl was defiled and pushed into early puberty due to severe abuse allegedly perpetrated by the 16-year-old.”
The case, initially charged by the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, GRA Ikeja, saw the magistrate interview both the victim and the accused in chambers before ordering his remand at the Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun.
“If the sitting magistrate had not gotten substantial information from both parties, she wouldn’t have remanded the alleged perpetrator,” ACVPN noted.
Despite defence arguments that the accused should be released to sit for the upcoming Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, the magistrate initially ruled for remand. However, the DPP’s later advice led to the case being struck out.
Advocates have raised concerns about missing evidence. “What does the result of his biological sister’s medical examination conducted at one of the Lagos State-approved Sexual Assault Centres state?” ACVPN asked. “Why wasn’t this result made known to the magistrate to ensure transparency?”
They also pointed to inconsistencies in the victim’s mother’s stance. “The moment the victim’s mother changed her tone from seeking justice to begging for resolution, the Investigating Police Officer claimed the family no longer wanted the case,” ACVPN said. “This is foul play.”
ACVPN emphasised that there is a recorded video of the victim’s statement, where she gave a vivid narrative of the abuse. “As far as ACVPN is concerned, this ‘no case to answer’ ruling is dead on arrival. It represents the highest level of decadence in our criminal justice system.”
The group is demanding scrutiny of both the DPP and the magistrates’ court. “The legal advice from the DPP sets a dangerous precedent, whereby a potential rapist is let loose in society. This is a NO NO for ACVPN,” the statement read.
They also accused some police officers of pressuring victims’ families to compromise. “The Lagos State Police Command should beam its searchlight on officers who accept gratification from perpetrators’ families,” ACVPN declared.
The group recalled similar tactics in past cases, including that of popular sports presenter “Bobo Karo,” where protests eventually forced action.
“It’s high time the Lagos State Government critically examined the activities of its prosecutors and magistrates. Justice must not be traded for convenience,” ACVPN concluded. #Securitynewsalert.com
