A Sabo Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday, ordered that a clergyman, Augustine Igboayaka, who allegedly defiled a seven-year-old girl, be remanded in a correctional centre.

The police charged Igboayaka with defilement and sexual assault,

Magistrate O.Y. Adefope, who did take the plea of Igboayaka, ordered that he should be remanded in Ikoyi Custodial centre, Lagos State, pending legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

She adjourned the case until Nov. 24.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Magaji Haruna told the court that Igboayaka committed the offence sometime between 2019 and 2020 in the Iba area of Lagos.

He said Igboayaka had sexual intercourse with the seven-year-old girl.

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The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 137 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 137 stipulates life imprisonment for the offense of defilement of a child while Section 263 carries three years jail terms for sexual assault