For allegedly raping a 3-year-old girl, a student, Alaska Omini has been arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrate Court.

The 19-year-old accused of Block 20, Flat A, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Kwara State, was said to have committed the offence on March 6, 2012, having forced the victim into his room where he forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.

Alaska was dragged before the court on a one-count charge of rape, contrary to Section 283 of the Penal Code Law. He has since been ordered to be remanded at the Federal Medium Security Prison, Mandala, Ilorin.

Police arrested the accused following a report by the father of the victim, Mr. Musa Musale of Nigeria Army, Sobi Barrack, Ilorin, that her daughter (name withheld) was defiled by the accused.

The complainant alleged further that while he gave money to the victim to go and buy biscuit from a neighbor, the accused waylaid her and forced her into his room where he had carnal knowledge of her.

Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter stated that investigation conducted at the State Criminal Intelligence Department (SCID) Ilorin, revealed that the accused committed the offence.

The prosecutor, Inspector Mojisola Olamokun told the court that investigation into the matter is yet to be completed. She objected to the bail of the accused and urged the court to remand him at the prison custody, Ilorin, pending the outcome of the investigation.

She submitted further that the alleged offence is capital in nature and not ordinarily bailable and that if the accused was granted bail he might jump bail having known the gravity of the alleged offence.

The trial magistrate, Mrs. Qudus M. Salahu, who refused to take the plea of the accused for lack of jurisdiction to try the matter, upheld the submission of the prosecutor and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Medium Security Prison, Mandala, Ilorin, pending the outcome of the police investigation.

The court adjourned the case May 24,2012 for further mention

By Tayo Ayanda (The Herald)