An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered remand of a 49-year-old man, Bernard Uzzi,  for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, who did not take the plea of Uzzi, ordered that the case file should be sent to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

She held that the Uzzi should be kept at the  Kirikiri custodial facility pending the DPP’s advice.

Kubeinje adjourned the case until March 14 for mention.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mrs Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that Uzzi committed the offence from 2020 to  Feb. 5, 2023.

He alleged that the defendant had been luring the girl to his room and defiling her.

“Uzzi had carnal knowledge of the girl several times despite knowing she is a child.

“The girl’s parents reported the case at a police station and the suspect was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

He said that the alleged offence contravened  Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.