A 53-year-old teacher, Ayodeji Onoviran, has been remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service facility at Kirikiri over allegations of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl who was one of his students.

Onoviran, who resides at 13 Opare Street, Orile Agege, Lagos, was arraigned before the Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court on charges of rape. The incident reportedly occurred in August 2024 at a secondary school in Ijeshatedo, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, ASP Adegoke Ademigbuji, the victim had been attending a summer lesson programme organised by the defendant when the alleged defilement took place.

Ademigbuji told the court that the girl’s aunt noticed sudden changes in her behaviour, prompting questions that eventually led the minor to reveal what had happened.

The offence, the prosecutor said, violates Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which criminalises rape and sexual assault.

Chief Magistrate L. A. Owolabi declined to take the defendant’s plea and ordered his remand at Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending further legal advice. 

The case has been adjourned to November 20 for the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State.

The case has drawn renewed attention to child protection concerns in schools, with advocates calling for stricter measures to safeguard minors from abuse.