The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA) says it has registered 3,918 intending pilgrims for the 2024 pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, out of 5,001 slots allocated to the state.

The agency’s chairman, Aliyu Musa-Gusau, disclosed the figure after a meeting with the 23 local government assistant Hajj registration officers on Saturday in Sokoto.

Mr Musa-Gusau, who was represented by the director administration of the agency, Ladan Ibrahim, maintained that the agency would close collection of payment of balance and complete package for 2024 Hajj on Feb. 12.

According to him, the closure of the 2024 registration is based on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, directives that all payments of the balance and for the purchase of seats should be complete by Monday Feb. 12.

He warned that any person who failed to complete the payment after initial deposit of N4.5 million, or pay the whole N4,699 million, risked missing out on this year’s Hajj.

The chairman explained that 1,806 intending pilgrims paid N4.5 million and above, while 2,895 intending pilgrims paid below N4.5 million.

He, therefore, urged the depositors to endeavour to complete the payment, or those willing to pay for the whole package, to do so before the Monday deadline.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested five suspected internet fraudsters.

The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

He said that they were arrested on Friday at Kansho village in the Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to him, the arrest is sequel to the actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in internet – related offences.

He stated, “The suspects are Shima Francis, Ode Jesse, Odey Linus, Kingsley Obinna and Emmanuel Inaleguwu.

Items recovered from them are one iPhone and five android phones.

They suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.’’

The Council of Knights of Anglican Diocese of Umuahia, Abia State has reiterated the ban it placed on the shooting of traditional guns, popularly known as Cannon or Egbe Mkpo N’ala.

This resolution is contained in a communique issued to the newsmen at the end of the re-dedication of the Council Of Knights, Diocese of Umuahia (Anglican Communion) held from Friday.

The communique, jointly signed by Sir. Nnamdi Asinu-Anosike, Chairman; Sir. Godfrey Anonye, and others, said, “the Council reiterated that there would be no Cannon shooting (Egbe Mkpo N’ala) before, during and after the burial of a Knight or Lady”.

The resolution also advised the Ladies and Knights to live a life worthy of emulation so as not to be seen as enemies of the church and cross.

The communique warned that a Knight who contradicts the oath of allegiance at any point would be stripped of his Knighthood.

The Council of Knights claimed that the current state of the Nigerian nation has drastically reduced the standard of living and caused an upsurge in criminal activities like insecurity, kidnapping, and robbery among other societal ills.

According to them, “This has led to an increase in the number of enemies of the Cross of Christ”.

As court shifts trial till March 12, five Rivers State men charged with terrorism offenses by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have challenged the jurisdiction of Federal High Court Abuja to try them for alleged offenses committed in Rivers.

The five defendants charged with terrorism are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

They had, in yesterday’s proceedings, orally attacked the territorial jurisdiction of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court on the ground that the alleged offences were committed in Rivers State.

However, the oral application was turned down by the court, which insisted that being a court of record, all applications and motions must be brought before it in writing as required by law.

Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon rejected the oral application sought to be moved by counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendants, Lukman Fagbemi.

Olajuwon, who was taken aback by the mode, rejected the move and advised the lawyer to come formally with any motion or application.

The Judge said that the senior lawyer should be diligent in the conduct of proceedings in relation to the case of his clients.

He also turned down the request by the defendants to adjourn the case until their proposed application to challenge the territorial jurisdiction of the court is determined one way or the other.

Governor Babagana Zulum has inaugurated a committee to stop the incessant farmers and herders clashes that often resulted in loss of lives and shortage of food crops in Borno.

During the committee’s inauguration at the Government House in Maiduguri, Mr Zulum said the committee’s mandate was to determine the causes of conflicts between farmers and herders in Borno.

While charging the committee to complete the task within two months, the governor urged it to recommend measures to prevent future occurrences.

Mr Zulum also tasked the committee to identify and document the grazing reserves and their current status in Borno.

The committee comprises 21 members and includes security agencies, the Miyetti Allah Association, the Alhaya Development Association, and representatives of traditional institutions.

Similarly, the governor inaugurated the Bama Phase II Reconstruction Committee and the Streetlight Maintenance and Installation Committee. He tasked the committee to identify IDPs willing to return to Bama town, Kumshe, Darajamal, and Tarmuwa in Bama LGA and resettle them accordingly.

“Bama Phase II reconstruction is prompted by the relative peace enjoyed in the state, coupled with our resettlement efforts towards ensuring the voluntary return of internally displaced persons to all safe areas to enable them to regain their sources of livelihood,” Mr Zulum said.

He added that the reconstruction of LGAs along the border, such as Bama, Abadam, and Kukawa, was prioritised to allow the return of Nigerians seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.

“The eight-member Bama reconstruction committee is headed by the State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe.

“The streetlight maintenance and installation committee consists of six members, with the Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Babagana Mallumbe, as chairman.

“The committee will ensure the maintenance of streetlights, with priorities on Maiduguri Metropolis and Jere Local Government, while also considering other major towns across the three senatorial zones.

“The committee will also oversee the conversion of streetlights, which use diesel-powered generators, to alternative solar-powered ones to reduce the rising cost of maintenance,” said Mr Zulum.

Speaking on behalf of all the committees, Lawan Wakilbe, the education commissioner, expressed gratitude to the governor for assigning them the tasks.

He assured the governor of their unwavering commitment to fulfilling their assigned tasks and delivering as scheduled.

The National Association of Nigerian Students has expressed concern over Tuesday’s students’ unrest at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, in Abia.

Reacting to the incident at an interactive session with journalists in Enugu on Wednesday, the NANS President, Pedro Obi, took a swipe at the management of MOUAU for allegedly imposing hard conditions on students during their first semester examinations.

Mr Obi was reacting to the reported “no registration no examination” policy of the university, which allegedly led to students’ violent protest on campus and eventual closure of the university by the management.

He said, “It has come to our attention that students are being denied the opportunity to sit their examinations unless they have made full payment of their school fees. This action by the university management is unfair, especially considering the current economic situation in Nigeria. We are deeply concerned that this approach will lead to a significant number of dropouts, negatively affecting the lives and education of our students, thereby leading to more security challenges in the country.

“The national secretariat of NANS firmly believes that education should be accessible to all, regardless of their financial background. We urge the university management to kindly consider alternative ways of addressing the issue of school fees payment. Such approach could be by splitting the payment into manageable installments per semester, rather than expecting a one-time payment.’’

He also said that the association had consequently set up a five-member committee “to swiftly intervene and bring the situation under control.’’

He said that membership of the committee included Cokey Nwachukwu (Chairman), with Josephine Ikpe-Abasi, Felix Ifeyinwa and Orji Frank as members, while Chijioke Emmanuel (MOUAU SUG President ) is to serve as secretary.

Mr Obi said that the committee would engage in constructive dialogue with the university management to find a resolution that ensures that the rights and wellbeing of the students are protected.

He said, “NANS national secretariat calls on the management of MOUAU to immediately halt this unfair practice and work towards a more student-friendly approach to payment of school fees.

Education should not be a privilege reserved for a select few but a fundamental right accessible to all. We implore the university management to prioritise the welfare of the students and cooperate fully with the committee set up by NANS national secretariat.”

He, however, said that the association “condemns in totality, the destruction of school or government’s property as genuine students should not be found engaging themselves in such act.’’

According to him, such violent acts jeopardise genuine and well intended struggle for an egalitarian society.

“We urge all the MOUAU students to remain calm and patient as the committee works tirelessly to resolve this issue. Having cried out, your voices have been heard and we are committed to fighting for your rights,” the NANS president said.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, has reacted to the students protest, saying that the implementation of “no registration no examination” was not a new policy.

Speaking at a news briefing in the university on Wednesday, Mr Iwe said that the policy had been in place in the institution and “all normal universities across the world.’’

“University is not a place where people can acquire education on credit. The point is that it is either you have the money to pay and be trained or you stay away,” he said.

A final year student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Adaze Doris Jaja, has reportedly killed herself in a hotel in Ijebu Area of the state.

Jaja was found dead with an empty bottle of sniper beside her.

The deceased was found foaming in her mouth.

While confirming the incident, the Police spokesman, Omolola Odutola, on Tuesday, said the 31-year-old was rushed to the hospital where she was confirmed dead.

Odutola explained that the incident was reported to the Divisional Police Officer, Ago Iwoye Division, on January 27 at about 7:30 a.m.

The body of the deceased has however, been deposited at the university mortuary for an autopsy.

Her words, “the Director of Be-Happy Hotel in Ago Iwoye, Hon. Oduniyi Adelaja, came to the police station and reported that at about 0600hrs (6 am) on the same day, he received information from one Adebayo Israel, a staff member of the hotel, that Adaeze Doris Jaja, a 31-year-old female and a 400-level student of Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago Iwoye, was found lying unconscious and foaming in the mouth.

“An empty bottle of Sniper 1000EC/DDVP was found beside her, and she was immediately rushed to Best Care Hospital and later transferred to Love and Care Hospital in Ago Iwoye, where she was confirmed dead.”

Odutola said that the scene of the crime was visited and the empty sniper bottle was recovered.

The new Assistant Inspector General of Police deployed to Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, Olatoye Durosinmi, has assumed duty.

A statement by the Zonal Public Relations Officer SP. Tunni Ayuba, indicated this on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Ayuba said that Mr Durosinmi assumed office on Tuesday as the new AIG in charge of the Zone, comprising Lagos and Ogun states.

“Durosinmi succeeded AIG Ari Mohammed Ali, who has been deployed as the AIG in-charge of community policing, Force Headquarters Abuja,” she said.

According to her, Mr Durosinmi was born on August 19, 1964, and hails from Ayetoro in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

“He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology/Anthropology from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Durosinmi has LLB (Hons) from Delta State University, Abraka, BL from Nigerian Law School, Abuja, LLM from Lagos State University, Ojo Lagos, and a PhD – in view at the Imo State University, ” Mr Ayuba stated.

The ZPRO said that Mr Durosinmi joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police Course 16 in 1990.

She said, “The AIG has served in various capacities across the country, such as the DPO Lion Building Division, DPO Ebute-Ero Division, pioneer DPO Layeni Division, DPO Isheri Division.

“Also the pioneer DCP State CID Kebbi State, pioneer DCP FSWAT, Lagos, Delta, and Kwara State, to mention but a few. He is a vastly experienced police officer who has attended several courses both at home and abroad. His posting is aimed at achieving the IGP’s vision statement for emplacing a modern police force that is professional, secure, and rule of law compliant, from his wealth of experience.’’

Three persons, on Tuesday, died after a truck fell off from an overhead bridge in Jos, Plateau State capital.

It was learnt that the three persons were trapped under the vehicle and died afterwards while three others were also injured.

Residents who gathered at the scene along Zaria Road confirmed the accident to PUNCH Online in Jos on Tuesday, saying about 45 cows were also killed in the crash that occurred between 4 am and 5am.

One of the residents, Timothy Garuba, who spoke with our correspondent, said the accident happened when the truck was climbing the flyover bridge situated within Gada Biu /Kabong community in the early of hours of Tuesday.

Garuba said, “A truck driver lost control on the Kabong fly-over bridge in Jos North Local Government Area early this morning.

The truck was carrying cows and passengers around 4:30 am when it fell off the bridge with passengers and some cows trapped under it. I can count 45 cows that are littered on the ground dead. Some passengers are trapped under the vehicle as well.”

The Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the state, Peter Langsan, who confirmed the casualty figures said that both the dead and the injured victims had been evacuated to the hospital.

Langsan said, “Our officers and men have just concluded the rescue operation here. It was an articulated vehicle carrying cows and human beings that fell off the bridge. Three persons died and three others were also injured. They have been taken to the hospital.”

Langsan, who attributed the accident to speeding, warned motorists to stop carrying humans in vehicles meant for haulage.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Sunday confirmed that six persons died in an automobile crash on Onueke axis at the Afikpo-Abakaliki road in Ebonyi.

The sector commander in Ebonyi, Igwe Nnabuife, said in Abakaliki that the crash involved 17 people.

Mr Nnabuife noted that six persons died, while 11 were critically injured.

According to Mr Nnabuife, the crash involved five automobiles, including two articulated vehicles and a commercial bus belonging to Peace Mass Transit.

“It happened around 11:50 a.m. at Onuwedu, Onueke axis, Ezza South local government area of Ebonyi. This is a multiple crash and it was caused by wrong overtaking.

“The dead have been taken to the mortuary at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, while those injured are receiving treatment.

“We advice drivers to always be patient while driving. Always obey the traffic rules and regulations. Avoid dangerous driving and over-speeding to save lives,” Mr Nnabuife stated.

The police command in Ekiti said it arrested Baboga for his alleged involvement in the killing of the two traditional rulers in the Ikole Axis of Ekiti penultimate Monday.

Addressing journalists on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, the assistant inspector general of police in charge of Ekiti, Dare Ogundare, said it took the combined efforts of security agencies in the state to apprehend the suspect in the forest between Ayedun and Ayebode.

He said the suspect had confessed to the crime while efforts are on to apprehend his accomplices.

The AIG, who said no arrest was made during the rescue operation for the abducted school pupils and their teachers, however, informed journalists that some other suspects were arrested at Oke Osun, in Ikere Ekiti, Igbo Okah and Iju-Ikere boundary forest.

On whether ransom was paid to secure the release of the kidnap victims, Mr Ogundare said the police would not encourage paying ransom.

He commended the onspector general of police, and the Ekiti governor for their intervention in the quick release of the school pupils and their teacher.

A10-day-old abandoned baby recovered by a resident of the Agege area of Lagos has been handed over to the state police command, its spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said.

Mr Hundeyin, who disclosed this to journalists on Friday, said the police had launched an investigation to trace the baby’s mother.

“Investigation is ongoing on how to track the mother of the child,” he said.

He said the baby was discovered on Wednesday at about 10:30 p.m. behind the window of a house at Akindiya Street in the Agege area of Lagos.

He said a resident brought the baby to Pen Cinema Police Division, Agege, on Thursday at about 10:00 a.m.

“The baby has been taken to the Juvenile/Woman Centre, Alakara, in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos, and will be transferred to the orphanage home, Alausa, Ikeja,” he added.

Justice Ibrahim Kala of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court sentenced a man, Olorunfunmi Olakunle, to two years’ imprisonment for drug trafficking on Friday.

The court convicted and sentenced him for importing 1.8 kg of hemp from America after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The court also gave him the option of a N200,000 fine with community service.

After his guilty plea, the prosecutor, Augustine Nwagu, applied for a review of the facts of the case.

The prosecutor told the court how the defendant was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on January 4 during cargo clearance on EgyptAir from the United States of America.

The prosecutor tendered several exhibits, which were admitted and marked by the court.

After reviewing the facts, the court asked the defendant if he had any objections to the facts presented by the prosecution.

The defendant said he had no objection.

The prosecutor, consequently, urged the court to convict and sentence him as charged in accordance with the NDLEA Act.

After going through the facts and evidence of the prosecution, the court found him guilty and convicted him accordingly.

Meanwhile, before the sentence, the defence had urged the court to show mercy on the convict for being a first-time offender, adding that he had learnt his lessons.

In his verdict, Mr Kala imposed the sentence, adding that in addition to the payment of a fine, the convict would do community service for 30 days.

The court ordered that the substance recovered from him be destroyed.

The offence contravenes sections 11(a) and 14 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. 30 Law of Federation 2004.

The Ado-Ekiti High Court has sentenced 20 -year-old Seun Olarewaju to 30 calendar months imprisonment for the offence of rape on a three-year-old girl.

The convict was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Familoni on June 6, 2022, on a one-count charge of rape.

According to the charge, Mr Olarewaju, on August 6, 2021, at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of the court, raped a three-year-old girl, contrary to section 31(1) of the Child Right Law, Cap C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

In her evidence before the court, the victim’s mother said, “I was not around. I did not know what happened until the following day when I was bathing my daughter. She did not allow me to wash her private parts.”

When I checked, I saw it was red and swollen. I was so scared. When I asked what happened to her bum bum, she repeatedly said it was Seun.”

She added, “Thereafter, I heard Seun’s mother and my mother-in-law fighting outside. It was then I had the true picture of what happened.

“My brother-in-law narrated what transpired between Seun’s mother, my mother-in-law and my daughter yesterday. I reported the matter to the police, who later took over the matter.”

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called three witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, pictures of the victim and defendant, and medical report, among others, as exhibits.

The defendant spoke through his counsel, Luke Ekene. He prayed the court to temper justice with mercy and called four witnesses.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Familoni said, “I believe the defendant as a young person deserves a second chance to redeem himself and be a good citizen. He cannot do that if I sentence him to life imprisonment.”

Therefore, I am inclined to temper justice with mercy to afford him an opportunity of redemption.”

The accused was handed 30 months’ imprisonment without an option of a fine.

The sentence is to run effectively from September 20, 2021, when he was rearrested by the police and kept in detention.

The Police Command in Gombe State said it has arrested 12 suspected members of a fake dollar syndicate in the state.

Police Public Relations Officer ASP Mahid Abubakar, who disclosed this on Thursday, said that the suspects allegedly specialised in printing and disposing of the currency suspected to be counterfeit.

He said operatives of the command acting on credible intelligence arrested the suspects between the Bajoga and Dukku axes.

The police spokesman said 563 pieces of counterfeit 100-dollar bills and N265,000 were recovered from the suspects.

According to him, the suspects will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.

He urged residents of the state to be more vigilant and report suspicious persons and activities to security agencies.

The Household of David church in Surulere Street, Adeniyi Jones in the Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State has lost its multi-million naira church auditorium to a fire incident that gutted the church building.

It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 10:00 am on Wednesday.

Confirming the incident to correspondent in a phone interview, the Lagos State Fire Service spokesperson, Amodu Shakiri, disclosed that the church’s auditorium ceiling was overheating, which caused it to collapse and ignite a fire.

He added that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service’s Alausa and Ikeja Fire Stations, LASAMBUS, LASEMA, and Red Cross were the relevant agencies present at the scene.

Shakiri said the property damaged by the fire included the church’s furnishings and the auditorium.

He said, “The fire was however made to confine within the church’s auditorium it started from while salvaging adjoining properties.

The relevant agencies involved were the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Alausa and Ikeja fire stations, LASAMBUS, LASEMA, and Red Cross.

And the property involved in the destruction of the fire included the auditorium and church-hold items.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Senior Pastor of Household of David, Olusola Osunmakinde, in a video on Instagram, said, “It is a painful experience.”

According to Osunmakinde, a passerby made fun of him by inquiring, “Where was Jesus when this happened?”

He said the church’s air conditioners, chairs, and other equipment were all burnt.

He said, “As we know, ‘Mercy Conference’ starts today, but something happened that I just want to put a message out there to people. I came here this morning, everybody was setting up, everything was going fine.

All of a sudden, we started hearing that there was fire and something up there on the roof of the church. I know there will be reactions, and people will say that and that, but that is none of my concern now.

“The most important thing is this, we thank God no life was lost and we thank God for everything. We are not too discouraged but we believe in God that we will still go on with the conference.

“It is a painful experience no doubt, even someone walked into the compound mocking, saying, ‘Where is Jesus when this happened?’ We don’t owe people an answer, all we believe is that all things work together. We will not back out because of this but by the grace of God, all things work together for good.”

The Area Court at Centre-Igboro, Ilorin, has sentenced a student of Yaba College of Technology to two years in a Borstal Training Institute for smoking marijuana.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday in Ilorin, the judge, Hammad Ajumonbi, said Mr Onikoyi should be taken to the Borstal Training Institute, where he will stay for two years.

Mr Ajumonbi ordered that the offender be allowed to register for the UTME examination for 2024 to continue his studies in mass communication after his release.

The court also ordered that while at the borstal, Mr Onikoyi should be trained in a vocation of his choice.

Earlier, the offender had told the court that he was a first-year Yaba College of Technology student in Lagos studying Mass communication.

He said, “My parents have good plans for me.”

Mr Onikoyi admitted to the offence levelled against him by his parents, who were the complainants in the matter.

He said he usually smoked marijuana due to loneliness.

The Borstal Training Institute is a unit under the Correctional facility owned by the federal government to punish minors.

One person died, while two others sustained varying degrees of injury when a Toyota Camry car and a private motorcycle collided on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Tuesday.

William Manga, FRSC commander in Badagry, confirmed the crash on Wednesday.Mr Manga said the incident occurred at the Age-Mowo axis of the expressway at about 8:50 p.m.

“The accident involved a Toyota Camry car with registration number FST 81 FN and a private Bajaj motorcycle. Our personnel got to the scene of the accident at exactly 9.00 p.m.; three persons were involved in the accident.

“The motorcyclist died instantly while two others in the Camry car sustained injury. Two of the victims were immediately rushed to General Hospital in Badagry for treatment, while the corpse of the motorcycle rider was deposited in the hospital’s mortuary,” he said.

The unit commander urged motorists plying the Agbara-Badagry expressway to be conscious of the single lane being used by road users.

He called on all motorists to adhere to speed limits and carry out routine vehicle checks on their vehicles.

Precious Ifeanyi, a businesswoman married for 13 years, gave birth to sextuplets at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Monday.

Ms Ifeanyi, a native of Ebonyi in Ohaozara LGA, said on Wednesday in Abuja that she had the babies, four girls and two boys, after undergoing In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).

The first-time mother who gave birth to the babies at 30 weeks through Caesarean Section said she was expecting quintuplets, only to find out during delivery that there were six babies.

She was married on April 3, 2010.

“However, since then, it has not been easy. We expected children, but they were not forthcoming; we went to many places and spent money but no results so we just accepted to wait for God’s time.

“God in His infinite mercy visited us, and here we are today. God has changed the story,” Ms Ifeanyi said.

The new mother said that within the 13 years she spent expecting a child, she and her husband, a pastor with Living Faith Church, Chikara in Kogi, spent a lot of money that yielded no result.

“When you spend money on something and it is not forthcoming, it is very frustrating. My husband and I spent money on medications, kept asking people for suggestions, and went to many places without success.

“It was as if it would never happen, but God turned it around,” she stated.

She said this was the first time she tried IVF, and that she started the procedure at Fertile Ground Hospital, Jos, and continued at the National Hospital, Abuja, when she was four months into the pregnancy, and was there till delivery.

The Kubwa Division of the FCT High Court on Wednesday sentenced 56-year-old Olorundare Adesanmi to life imprisonment for raping his 17-year-old housemaid.

The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) had reported the matter for prosecution.

The prosecution counsel, Arinze Mbanefo, had told the court that Mr Adesanmi intentionally penetrated the vaginal of his 17-year-old housemaid in November 2018.

Mr Mbanefo said the housemaid had become pregnant, adding that the offence contravened section 1(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.

Justice Asmau Akanbi-Yusuf, who found Mr Adesanmi guilty of the charge, held that evidence before the court proved that the victim was underage at the time of the commission of the crime on November 15, 2018.

Mr Akanbi-Yusuf noted that it was immaterial whether there was consent or not, as the defence counsel, Peter Dajang, tried to establish.

The judge, therefore, found him guilty of rape and accordingly convicted him.

The defence counsel, however, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, saying the convict was a first-time offender.