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By Emmanuel Adeleke
An Oyo State Magistrate Court sitting at Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday, remanded Ibadan-based skit maker, Maruf Abdullahi, popularly known as Trinity Guy, in Agodi correctional facility over alleged sexual exploitation of a 10-year-old girl.
The court also arraigned Isiaka Ahmed, 40, and his wife, Rofiat, 29, who are parents of the victim on two-count charge of conspiracy, sexual abuse and exploitation, alongside the prankster.
The Magistrate, Mrs P.O. Adetuyibi, who did not take the defendants’ plea for want of jurisdiction, said that the case had been filed and duplicated by the Oyo State Ministry of Justice.
Adetuyibi remanded the three defendants in Agodi correctional facility, Ibadan, till July 11 when the case would come up for mention.
The defence counsel, Mr Oludare Adebayo, argued that Section 41 empowered the court to hear the matter.
Adebayo also said the victim was a product of poverty.
The Magistrate, however, said that the case file had been duplicated, adding that until the Ministry of Justice decided to withdraw it, she could hear the matter.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Oluwakemi Arowosaye, had told the court that the three defendants conspired together to sexually exploit the girl.
Arowosaye said that Trinity Guy, sexually abused and exploited the girl at Kuola area of Ibadan, on December 17, 2022.
“Abdullahi was asking the victim the colour of his pants, recording the scene and posting it on social media,” she said.
According to her, the offences contravened Section 35 (1) and punishable under Section 35 (2) of Oyo State Child Right’s Law, 2006.
Arowosaye said that the offences also contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
If the skit maker is found guilty of the offence, he is liable to 15 years imprisonment under the Child Right’s Law, 2006.
(NAN)