An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday remanded three men at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre for allegedly defiling a 16-year-old girl (name withheld).

The state government arraigned Owhe Oghenero, Kingsley Oni,  and  Olorunwa Abina on a one-count charge of defilement.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Rahman Oshodi thereafter remanded them at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, where they were currently being held.

Oshodi adjourned the case until Oct. 27 for commencement of trial.

Earlier, the state counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, told the court that the defendants committed the offence sometime in 2023 at Aradagun Area in Badagry, Lagos.

Okeowo alleged the defendants defiled the girl, by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

She said the prosecution would present  five witnesses against the defendant.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.(NAN)

 The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has apprehended  a driver who allegedly attempted to run away after  causing an accident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

The statement was signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.

Bakare-Oki said that the lone accident involved a black Toyota Tundra with registration number FST 222 HV and occurred at the Mosalasi Roundabout on New Ipaja Road.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle, speeding, veered uncontrollably off the carriageway, mounted the pedestrian walkway, and fatally struck a woman who died instantly from the impact.

“The momentum of the vehicle subsequently propelled it into a nearby private premises known to be engaged in the sale of livestock, where it inflicted significant structural damage to the perimeter fence and an adjoining advertising billboard.

“The driver, upon realising the gravity of the calamity he caused, made a frantic attempt to flee the scene.

“However, thanks to the prompt, coordinated and courageous intervention of officials from LASTMA. The suspect was swiftly apprehended and restrained,” he said.

He added tha LASTMA operatives handed the driver over to security personnel from the Gowon Estate Command, who were present at the scene of the incident.

“The remains of the deceased woman were respectfully relinquished to officers of the Nigeria Police Force for requisite procedures.

“Subsequent developments confirmed that the suspect has been taken into custody and is currently undergoing rigorous interrogation by police authorities as part of an ongoing and thorough investigation into the incident,” he said.

The LASTMA boss expressed sadness  over the loss of life and condoled with the bereaved family.

Bakare-Oki charged motorists  to subject their vehicles to routine safety checks, with particular emphasis on the integrity of braking systems.

He said that adherence to traffic regulations was not merely a legal obligation but a moral imperative to safeguard lives and property.

“The Lagos state traffic management authority remains steadfast in its commitment to enforcing traffic laws and promoting road safety culture throughout the state,” he said. (NAN)

 A Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Thursday, convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each, for economic sabotage and financial terrorism.

The defendants, including two females, were also given a fine of one million naira each, by the court.

The defendants are: Xiang Hui, Hai Rong, Liu Gang, JI Geng, Li Dong, Huang Bo, Xhiong Zhen, Lai Feng and Deng Qiang

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC), on Dec.

10, 2024, invaded a building at Oyin Jolayemi area of Lagos, where over 700 people were arrested over cyber terrorism and economic sabotage.

On Thursday, EFCC counsel, Mr Nnemeka Omenwa, informed the court that the nine Chinese nationals  had opted for plea bargain.

Defence counsel, Mr Folarin Damela, also confirmed the position, and urged the court to accept the plea bargain agreement.

Consequently, the charge was read to the defendants, and they all pleaded guilty.

The defendants also admitted that they freely consented and signed the plea bargain agreement.

Following their guilty pleas, EFCC counsel urged the court to convict and sentence them in accordance with the plea bargain agreement.

Defence did not object to submission.

Justice Daniel Osiagor consequenly convicted and sentenced the defendants in line with the plea bargain agreement.

The court held that the prison term would take effect  from the Dec. 10, 2024.

The court also ordered that the Nigeria Immigration Service should repatriate the convicts to their country of origin upon completion of the prison term.

Osiagor also ordered that all items found on the convicts, including furnitures and  laptops, should  be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to EFCC, the convicts committed the offences on Dec. 10, 2024 within the court’s jurisidiction.

EFCC said that the convicts wilfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organised to destabilise and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria.

The commission added that the convicts employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantages for themselves.

The offences contravene Sections 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act of 2015 ass amended in 2024, and Section 2(3) (d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022. (NAN)