An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has remanded a lesson teacher, identified simply as Michael, at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre over allegations involving a 15 year old student in the Ketu area of the state.
The remand followed the suspect’s arraignment, days after allegations emerged that some police officers attempted to influence the victim’s family to withdraw the case.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the development on Friday, stating that the suspect had been formally charged and ordered into custody pending further proceedings.
The case attracted public attention after the student’s mother, Zainab Musa, alleged that some police officers pressured her family to accept N200,000 in exchange for discontinuing the matter.
The command had earlier dismissed the allegation, describing it as untrue while maintaining that investigations were ongoing and assuring the public that the suspect would be prosecuted.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, the incident was reported at the Ketu Police Station on July 13, leading to the immediate arrest and detention of the suspect.
She explained that efforts to arraign the suspect were interrupted on July 15 when he reportedly collapsed while preparations for his court appearance were underway.
Adebisi said the suspect was initially taken to the Lagos State Emergency Hospital at Toll Gate before he was later transferred to Gbagada General Hospital for further treatment.
Following his recovery, the police spokesperson said the suspect was arraigned before the Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, which ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until August 24 for further hearing.
Following reports of the suspect’s hospitalisation, the founder of the DOHS Cares Foundation, Ololade Ajayi, urged the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure the case is diligently prosecuted and that justice is served in accordance with the law.