CRIMERape: Court Frees 15-Year-Old Girl Accused Of Killing Father’s FriendPublished 54 seconds ago on June 11, 2020By OLUGBENGA SOYELE Lagos


A Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in sitting in Yaba has freed a 15-year-old girl (name withheld) charged with murdering her father’s friend, Babatunde Ishola, who allegedly attempted to rape her.

Magistrate Philip Adebowale Ojo struck out the murder charge filed by the police against the Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 pupil, following advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The Magistrate, in a ruling over the case, held that after due consideration of facts, it was duly decided that there were insufficient facts to establish a prima facie case of murder against the suspect contrary to Section 222 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17, Vol.3 Laws of Lagos State.

The court also stated that the ingredients required to prove the offense of Murder against the suspect were not all present from the facts of this case.

He further held that clear intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to the deceased cannot be established.


The court noted that it is settled law that in a case of murder, defences raised by the evidence, whether specifically put up by the suspect or not, must be properly considered.


He further observed that no matter how weak or stupid a defence raised by a suspect may appear, it must be properly considered.

Consequently, Magistrate Ojo discharged and acquited the suspect of murder charge.


The young girl was arraigned by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) before on a one-count charge of killing Ishola aged 51 years.

The police alleged that she committed the offence on March 7, 2020, at Nwadolu Street, Aboru, Alimosho, Lagos by stabbing the deceased to death with a knife.


The police claimed that the offence is punishable under section 225 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.

The deceased was said to be employed as a guard at a school in the community and lived alone.


The teenager’s plea was, however, not taken but after listening to the application of the prosecuting police officer, Magistrate Ojo promptly remanded her at the Correctional Home For Girls in Idi-Araba.

She then ordered the police to send a duplicate copy of the case file to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and