Two Arraigned for Child Marriage, Defilement

Two men were on Monday arraigned before the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos State, for allegedly engaging in child marriage and defilement.

One of the defendants, Henry Onyekwere, was said to have conspired with others still at large to marry off a 16-year-old girl (name withheld) to the second defendant, Awele Odigo.

A customary marriage rite was performed in August 2019 between the minor and Odigo on Musbau Ashafa Street, off Agbe Road, Abule Egba, Lagos.

This was after the age of the minor was allegedly falsely declared in an affidavit at a magistrate’s court in Ogba on June 30, 2021.

The second defendant, Odigo, was accused in count two of defilement, contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2016.

He was said to have had sexual intercourse with the minor.

The defendant was also arraigned for unlawful engagement in child marriage contrary to Section 210 (24) A, B, C of the Child Rights Law 2015.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges as Justice Abiola Soladoye adjourned the case till February 6, 2022.