A family court sitting at Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday, ordered the remand of a skit maker, Maruf Abdullahi, popularly known as “Trinity”, in Agodi correctional facility over alleged sexual exploitation of a 10-year-old girl.
The court also arraigned Isiaka Ahmed, 40, and his wife, Rofiat, 29, who are parents of the victim on two-count charge of conspiracy and sexual abuse and exploitation alongside the skit maker.
The magistrate, P.O. Adetuyibi, who did not take the defendants’ plea for want of jurisdiction, said that the case file had been filed and duplicated at the Oyo State Ministry of Justice.
Mrs Adetuyibi remanded the three defendants in Agodi correctional facility, Ibadan, pending July 11 when the case would come up for mention.
The defence counsel, Oludare Adebayo, argued that Section 41 empowered the court to hear the matter.
Mr Adebayo also said the victim was a product of poverty.
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The magistrate said that the case file had been duplicated, but added that not until the ministry of justice accepted to withdraw it that she could hear the matter.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Inspector Oluwakemi Arowosaye, had told the court that the three defendants conspired together to sexually abuse the girl.
Ms Arowosaye said that “Trinity”, on December 17, 2022, sexually abused and exploited the girl at Kuola area of Ibadan.
“Abdullahi was asking the victim the colour of his penis, recording the scene and posting it on social media,” she said.
According to her, the offences are contrary to Section 35 (1) and punishable under Section 35 (2) of Oyo State Child Rights Law, 2006.
Ms Arowosaye said that the offences also contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
If the skit maker is found guilty of the offence, he is liable to 15 years’ imprisonment under the Child Rights Law, 2006.
(NAN)
