Man accused of defiling 10-year-old cousin denied bail by court

<p>An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday denied the bail application of a man, Uchenna Edom, charged with the defilement of his 10-year-old cousin.</p>, <p>The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Edom had earlier pleaded not guilty to a charge of defilement, following his arraignment.</p>, <p>Justice Rahman Oshodi in his ruling, held that though the case against the defendant had not been proven, it was weighty.</p>, <p>“I am not also satisfied that he will make himself available for trial.</p>, <p>“In the interest of justice on the part of the defendant, I hereby order an accelerated hearing and his bail application is hereby denied, ” he said.</p>, <p>The judge adjourned the case until Feb. 12, 2024 for trial.</p>, <p>Earlier, the defence counsel, Mr A.O. Afuye, in his bail application dated Nov.11 and filed the same day, urged the court to grant the defendant bail, in the interest of justice.</p>, <p>Afuye, in his 16 paragraph affidavit, prayed the court that the defendant be granted bail pending the determination of the case.</p>, <p>“The defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty.</p>, <p>“The defendant, in the bail application has promised to make himself available fort trial will not interfere with course of justice though the alleged survivor is his cousin ,”he said.</p>, <p>The state counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, in her 13 paragraph counter-affidavit dated Nov.20 and filed the same day, said that bail was at the discretion of the court.</p>, <p>Okeowo argued that the defendant had not stated any cogent reason for which he should be granted bail.</p>, <p>“We urge the court to refuse the bail application of the defendant so that he does not interfere with the prosecution witnesses,” she said.</p>, <p>Okeowo had earlier told the court that the prosecution intended to call four witnesses in the case.</p>, <p>The prosecutor submitted that the defendant allegedly committed the offence in July 2022 in Isolo Lagos.</p>, <p>The prosecution alleged the defendant to have unlawf