Twenty seven-year-old Olalekan Adelaja, who was arrested for cutting off the penis of his one-and- half-year-old nephew, Bashiru Akintoye, has pleaded guilty to the crime.
Adelaja was arraigned along with Obinwanne Ounukwo, 22, before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s court on three counts of attempted murder and causing grievous harm.
While Adelaja pleaded guilty to the charges, Ounukwo said he did not know anything about the crime.
PUNCH Metro had reported last week how the victim’s mother, Abidemi, had left him in the house while on a sexual romp with her husband’s friend, identified as Fatai, within the neighbourhood on March 23, 2014.
Adelaja was alleged to have sneaked into the room and cut off the penis with a razor blade.
It was learnt that the shriek of the baby drew neighbours’ attention and they reportedly rushed to the house and saw the baby in a pool of blood.
Our correspondent reported that he was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital where the doctors are presently considering the option of a surgery for him.
PUNCH Metro reported on Thursday that the police had arrested Adelaja with the decayed penis of the child.
Adelaja and Ounukwo were arraigned on Wednesday for the offence.
The charges read in part, “That you, Olalekan Adelaja and Obinwanne Ounukwo, on March 23, 2014 at about 8pm, at 16, Lamide Ariyo Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit; attempted murder and causing grievous harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”
Adelaja pleaded guilty to the charges, while Ounukwo, pleaded not guilty and elected summary trial at the magistrate’s court.
Ounukwo’s defence counsel, Ali Abba, asked the court to grant him bail in liberal terms.
“It is rather unfortunate that this has happened. The second defendant was coming from the market when he was pointed out from the crowd. He does not know anything about it,” he said.
The police prosecutor, DSP Etim Nkankuk, urged the court to proceed with the judgment since Adelaja had already pleaded guilty.
He added that Ounukwo was the mastermind of the evil act and that he contracted the prime suspect to cut off the penis.
The magistrate, Tunbosun Abolarinwa, ruled that the matter was within the purview of the family court.
He adjourned the matter till Thursday, while also transferring it to the Chief Magistrate A.A. Demi-Ajayi’s court.
However, the judgement could not be delivered on Thursday. The court adjourned again till April 30, 2014.
Copyright PUNCH.
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