Emotional approach to minor defilement may lead to court case dismissal- Police

Emotional approach to minor defilement may lead to court case dismissal- Police

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin has said that approaching issues with emotions can lead to case dismissal in court.

Hundeyin disclosed this on Sunday while replying to a netizen on X (formally Twitter) who claimed police are planning slap-on-the-wrist punishment of the police officer who defiled a 17-year-old girl.

The netizen wrote, “Bro it’s not defilement. She was bloody raped. Are you people joking? Do you have a child? Clearly, you don’t because your officer took away years from that kid, took away choice and gave her years of trauma in return and you are thinking of a slap on the wrist punishment?”

Reacting to the netizen, Hundeyin wrote, “When it’s a child, it’s legally called defilement. When it’s an adult, it’s legally called rape.

“Not to worry, they carry the same penalty. We are not attempting to water the allegation down like some people are insinuating.

“Also, it is important not to approach issues with emotions, as doing so might create lacunas that will make the court strike your case out on technical grounds.”

Dailyeconomy had early reported that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade has directed a full-scale and thorough investigation into the allegation and promised that the officer would be dealt with by police regulations and the law if found culpable.