A 38-year-old Islamic cleric, identified as AbdulLateef Mustapha, has been arrested for allegedly defiling a six-year-old girl, allegedly a cousin to his wife, in his single room apartment in Bariga, Lagos State.

The suspect lured the girl into his room when his wife had traveled out of the state for a function on February 16, at Mojoyinola Street, Bariga.

The victim later told an elderly woman about the incident and the woman raised the alarm and brought it to the attention of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Child Protection Network.

The Coordinator of Child Protection Network, Somolu Branch, Mr Toyin Okanlawon, said,

“Initially, when the suspect was arrested by policemen from Bariga Division, he denied the allegation.

He said how can he sleep with his wife’s cousin? But when the girl was brought before him, it was then he opened up that he only slept with her thrice.

When the girl was taken to the hospital, it was confirmed she was defiled and she had also been infected with Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and her bladder had been ruptured which made her to be bed-wetting whenever she sleeps.” 

Some of the friends of the Islamic cleric berated him but pleaded with the DPO to pardon him. His wife also reportedly begged for mercy, saying that they would go home and resolve it amicably.

But the DPO  told the suspect’s wife and friends that there was nothing he could do. According to the DPO, the matter is a state case which no one should toy with.