By Felix Kuyinu
A female suspect, Rayinat Bakare, has been remanded in the Kirikiri correctional centre for allegely stealing a nine-year-old girl.
Magistrate Olagbegi Adelabu gave the remand ruling on Wednesday following the charge of felony to wit child stealing proffered on the defendant at the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court.
Bakare, 45, was said to have commited the act on March 14 at about 5:30pm at Allyson Street, Ikorodu, Lagos, as uttered by the Lagos State Prosecuting counsel, Olawunmi Osibanjo.
Osinbajo said, “The defendant held the hand of the nine-year-old girl while walking on the road and the girl was crying unabated.
“People who saw her crying then asked her if the woman was her mother and she said no which brought the attention of the crowd who started questioning the defendant.
“The mother of the girl eventually appeared and told the crowd that she had never come across the defendant in her entire life.”
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 277 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
According to her, the defendant is liable to 14 years in prison if found guilty of the offence
Magistrate Adelabu, who did not take the plea of Bakare, adjourned the case until May 16, for legal advice from the office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.
