Witness narrates how neighbor defiled a 9-year-old girl

A witness in an ongoing trial before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, Inspector Joy Labiru and, on Wednesday, narrated how a middle-aged man, Samuel Benson, allegedly had canal knowledge of a nine year old girl by forcefully penetrating her private part.

The police witness, who was an investigator in the matter, testified before the court presided over by Justice S. A. Ogunsanya, how the defendant defiled the minor.

The defendant, Benson, had earlier pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge offence of rape when he was arraigned.

According to Insp. Labiru the incident was reportedly committed on the 22nd of March, 2014 at No. 4 Edward Street, Mile 12, Lagos where the defendant resides and shares a compound with the victims family.

“The matter was reported on the 29th of March, 2014 at Mile 12 police station , Lagos by one Michael Okon, father of the victim.

“The defendant happens to be a co-tenant with the victim’s family. On the day of the incident, he was said to have entered the house of the Okons in their parents absence and lured the little girl into her father’s bedroom of the two bedroom apartment after he had given his phone to Mr Okon’s two sons to play video games so as to distract them while he went into the bedroom with the young girl,” she said.

Labiru further testified that the defendant was said to have asked the victim to kneel and perform oral sex on him before forcefully penetrating her, thereby breaking her hymen and causing blood flow which lasted seven days.

“The incident was unknown to the victim’s parents and siblings as the victim kept it to herself because she was allegedly threatened by Samuel not to disclose what happened between them to anyone.

The matter however became known to her parents when her father, Michael, noticed the blood that was coming from her private part and quizzed her about it.
“The victim’s father later reported the matter at the Mile 12 police station,” Labiru said.

“We started investigations on the case and a medical check was conducted on the girl at the General Hospital in Agege, where it was confirmed that she was forcefully deflowered and the defendant was charged to court”, Labiru said.

Justice Ogunsanya adjourned the matter till July 12, 2017 for further hearing.