Choirmaster arrested for raping female chorister in Lagos

Firstclass newsline learnt that a bricklayer and choirmaster, Adewale
Babalola, who allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old
chorister in his church, was on Thursday brought before a Yaba Chief
Magistrates' Court in Lagos.
The accused, 36, who lives at No. 11, Maxwell Ijeh St., Aguda in
Surulere area of Lagos, is facing a charge of unlawful sexual
intercourse.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, the accused committed
the offence on Dec. 2, 2014 at his apartment.
He said the accused took undue advantage of his relationship with the
teenager as her choirmaster at Christ Our Light Glory Church, Sanya in
Surulere, to commit the crime.
"The girl told her father, who is also an evangelist in the church
that the accused lured her into his room and forcefully had a carnal
knowledge of her.
"The father reported the matter to the General Overseer of the church,
but no action was taken which compelled the victim's father to report
the matter at the police station," Anyanwu said.
The offence, Anyanwu noted, violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law
of Lagos State, 2011.
Babalola, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Soladoye, directed that the case file
should be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for
legal advice.
Section 137 prescribes life imprisonment for child rape.
The magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 with
two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to June 29 for DPP's
advice.
Firstclassnewsline.net