Court remands visually impaired man for allegedly defiling 13-year-old girl

A visually impaired man, Francis Ugachukwu, is to cool his heels in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling a  13-year-old girl (name withheld).

Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court remanded the defendant pending a hearing and filing of his bail application.

Soladoye adjourned the case until October 18 for the bail application hearing and commencement of trial.

Ugachukwu was arraigned on one count charge of defilement.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to the state counsel, Ms Abimbola Abolade, the defendant, committed the offence sometime in November 2022 on No. 16 Kareem Giwa St., Abule-Osun, Ojoo in Lagos.

According to the prosecution, the offence contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The offence is punishable with life imprisonment, if found guilty.