Not Guilty! (News Review)
ABDULSALAM SALAUDEEN, AN ISLAMIC CLERIC AND A TEACHER, POPULARLY KNOWN AS 'ALFA' has denied the charge of statutory rape of a five years old girl who was a pupil of his Islamic school, at the Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Court, Ikeja. The Prosecuting State Counsel, Ms T. Olanrewaju Dawodu, told the court that the accused, Salaudeen had raped the minor on December 22th, 2018 at the premises of Olorungbebe Mosque at 15, Palace Road, Igando, Lagos. She also told the court that the accused was caught on a hidden camera which was installed in the premises of the mosque by some individuals who had been suspicious of the cleric's sexual abuses of minors. However, when the charge was read, the defendant pleaded 'not guilty'. Hence, the prosecuting counsel begged the court to remand the cleric in prison custody until trial. Justice Soladoye easily granted the request, thereby adjourning the matter until October 14th, 2019 for trial. Reviewed & written by:...