Lagos – A lawyer, Chika Eze, 40, was on Wednesday arrested by the police at the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
He was detained in the court’s mini-cell for allegedly dipping his finger into the vagina of a nine-year-old girl, who came to Nigeria from England 72 hours earlier.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Eze, who regularly argues cases at the court, was arrested after the girl, who came with her grandmother to the court cried out that the lawyer had taken her to a corner to commit the act.
The incident created a big scene at the court as the girl who had just been brought to Nigeria from England, wept uncontrollably telling everyone around what the lawyer did to her.
Incensed by the incident, a Magistrate at the court, Mrs C. M. Adeyeye, ordered the arrest and detention of Eze preparatory to arraignment.
Speaking to NAN, the girl’s grandmother, Mrs Lanre Solomon, described the incident as a `rude shock’ to her.
She said she had brought the girl, who had just spent four days in Nigeria to the court so that she could know places.
Solomon said she had gone to see a magistrate and left the girl with Eze, who was handling a case for her but, was surprised that the lawyer took the minor to an occupied courtroom to commit the act.
“I quickly went to see a magistrate and since Eze is a lawyer and the one handling my case, I thought there was no problem leaving my granddaughter with him.
“When I came out of the magistrate’s court room, I looked around but did not see the two of them.
“It was when I was about looking at some of the court rooms that I saw that my girl was crying in one of the vacant rooms.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
“She was holding her private part and I asked what the problem was.
“She was looking so sad and afraid and after pressurising her, she told me and everyone around what Eze had done to her.
“I find this most irritating, especially that the shameful act involves a lawyer.
“This shows no one could be trusted for the safety of our children.’’
Solomon she had wanted the girl to live in Nigeria but that with the incident, she would have to fly her back to England.
An official of the court, who identified himself as Jelili Wahab, said he saw Eze taking the girl around and that he had told him she was his daughter.
“I saw him taking her round the court premises. Later she was sitting on his laps in one of the court rooms.
“I asked him who she was to him and he said she was his daughter.
“I was surprised to see the lawyer in handcuffs later for dipping his finger into the girl’s body and touching her indecently,’’ Wahab said.
When NAN correspondent visited the cell where Eze was being detained, he was seen being beaten by other inmates.
After the inmates were done with him, he looked so dejected and told NAN that the girl’s allegation was a lie.
“I did not do it. Did you believe them, no no,’’ he said. (NAN)