19th November, 2010
Doctors at Igando General Hospital, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State, South West Nigeria, are battling to save the life of a 5-year old girl who was alleged to have been raped by church usher, Afolabi Steve, 36.
Steve was alleged to have raped the victim (name withheld) and thereafter she started bleeding and was rushed to the hospital where she is laying critically ill.
Steve, who is the chief usher of a new generation church in Lagos State, reportedly took the little girl inside his bedroom, covered her mouth with a pillow case so that she will not be able to cry out for help .
After the dastardly act, she started bleeding and became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital.
The incident happened at 7, Atoba Street, Egan, a suburb of Lagos State where the victim with her parents had gone to visit her grandfather.
The matter was reported at the Igando Police Station and the defendant was arrested and charged to Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court where he is facing charges of rape and attempted murder.
When the matter came up at the court and the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Kunle Shonibare, made an oral application of substituting the second charge of attempted murder and reminded the court that although the offence was a bailable offence, the court should note tht the offence was a capital offence and the victim was still hospitalised as a result of the crime.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. M. B. Folami, noted the application of the prosecutor to substitute the charge and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending when the second charge will be substituted.
The matter has been adjourned till 26 November 2010 to enable the police to substitute the charge.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe
