CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 55-year-old man has been remanded in a Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town for allegedly sexually harassing an 18-year-old man in the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State.
The defendant, Ifeanyi Abakuma, 55, was arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting in Lagos on a three-count charge bordering on conduct likely to cause breach of peace, indecent assault and sexual harassment.
He was arraigned before Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu by the Commissioner of Police. The prosecution was led by SP Philip Adegbemuji.
According to the charge sheet with Charge No: BF/49/2026, the incident allegedly occurred on the 20th day of September, 2026, at about 9:40 pm at Bamako Estate, Ojodu Berger, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District.
In Count One, the Police alleged that the defendant allegedly conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by allegedly asking an 18-year-old man to allow him to have sex with him through his anus and allegedly promising to give him the sum of Ten Thousand Naira, N10,000.
The offence, according to the prosecution, is punishable under Section 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In Count Two, the prosecution alleged that the defendant allegedly indecently assaulted the 18-year-old man by allegedly demanding to have sex with him through his anus.
The offence is punishable under Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In Count Three, the Police alleged that the defendant allegedly sexually harassed the young man by allegedly demanding to have sex with him through the anus after allegedly promising to give him the sum of Ten Thousand Naira.
The offence is punishable under Section 264 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The case was reported at Ojodu Police Division and the defendant was subsequently arrested by the Police.
According to the Police, the IPO in charge of the case is Inspector Tessy Folorunsho of Ojodu Division, under the supervision of the Divisional Police Officer.
When the matter came up for mention, the prosecutor, SP Philip Adegbemuji, informed the court that the offences are serious and that the duplicate case file needs to be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for legal advice.
He applied that the defendant be remanded in custody pending the DPP advice, which will determine the jurisdiction and the appropriate court for the trial.
The defence counsel did not oppose the application for remand but pleaded with the court to ensure the DPP advice is issued promptly.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the report of DPP advice which will determine the jurisdiction of the court.
The Magistrate further directed that the case file be duplicated and forwarded to the DPP for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned pending the outcome of the DPP advice.
However, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.