CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 36-year-old man, Harrison Mgboji, has been arraigned before the Lagos State Magistrate’s Court for allegedly sexually assaulting a 26-year-old lady at Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
Mgboji was arraigned on a one-count charge marked Charge No. M/150/2026 filed by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command.
The case was heard before Magistrate Mrs. M.O. Tanimola at the Lagos Magisterial District, while the prosecution was led by ASP Lucky Ihehie.
According to the charge sheet, the defendant, Harrison Mgboji ‘M’, age 36 years, on the 1st day of September, 2026, at about 1500 hours, at Lounge 44, Igbokuta Road, Gberigbe – Ikorodu, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did allegedly sexually assault one Tiwalade Ogunbayo ‘F’, 26 years old, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The charge sheet was signed by CSP Omolola Odutola, Police Officer, while the Investigating Police Officer is ASP Mariam Olowo of the Gender Section, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.
When the charge was read to him before Magistrate Tanimola, the plea of the defendant was taken by the court.
Following his arraignment, the prosecutor, ASP Lucky Ihehie, informed the court that the offence is a serious sexual and gender-based offence which requires legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP.
The prosecutor, ASP Lucky Ihehie, therefore applied that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Center pending the outcome of DPP advice and that the case file be duplicated for DPP advice.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs. M.O. Tanimola ordered that the defendant, Harrison Mgboji, be remanded at the Correctional Center, Kirikiri Town, Lagos, pending the outcome of DPP advice.
The court also directed the police to duplicate the case file and forward same to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned pending DPP advice.
The Lagos State Police Command, through its Gender Section at Ikeja, said it is committed to thorough investigation of all cases bordering on sexual assault and gender-based violence in the state.
The Gender Section, headed by investigators including ASP Mariam Olowo, investigates complaints of sexual assault, defilement and domestic violence reported across Lagos State, including the Ikorodu area where the alleged incident at Lounge 44, Igbokuta Road, Gberigbe, was reported to have occurred.
Police sources said the complainant, Tiwalade Ogunbayo, aged 26, reported the alleged assault which allegedly occurred on September 1, 2026, at about 3:00 pm at Lounge 44, leading to the arrest of the defendant and subsequent investigation by the Gender Section.
The Police Command advised members of the public to report cases of sexual assault promptly to the Gender Section for investigation and assured that all cases will be handled professionally and confidentially.
The court emphasized that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence and urged residents to make use of the various reporting channels provided by the Ministry of Justice and the Police Command.
As at the time of filing this report, the defendant remains in custody at Kirikiri Correctional Center pending the outcome of DPP advice