Islamic cleric remanded for defiling a five-year-old girl inside a mosque

On Monday, a Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court remanded an Islamic cleric, 43-year-old Abdulsalam Salaudeen, for defiling a five-year-old girl inside a mosque in Lagos State. The defilement case was brought before the court and it was chaired by Justice Abiola Soladoye. The Islamic cleric raped five-year-old, according to the prosecutor.

The defendant, who lives at No. 16, Awoyemi St., Ikotun, Lagos, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of sexual abuse and defilement. This notwithstanding, the prosector, Ms. T. Olanrewaju-Dawodu, requested that the accused be remanded in prison pending the commencement of trial.

Justice Abiola Soladoye granted the request of the prosecutor to remand the defendant, Abdulsalam Salaudeen. Justice Soladoye also moved for the adjournment of the case until October 14, when trial is scheduled to begin.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Islamic cleric raped five-year-old and will stand trial for the offence. The report noted that the five-year-old girl was a student of his, which is the reason he had access to her.

How the Islamic cleric raped five-year-old

The incident happened at the Olorunbabe Mosque situated at No. 15, Palace Road, Igando, Lagos State. According to the prosecutor T. Olanrewaju-Dawodu, the defendant allegedly committed the offense on December 22, 2018.

Speaking further on the issue, the prosecutor said that unknown to the defendant, who is popularly known as Alfa, a hidden camera had been installed inside the mosque by some individuals who had their suspicions about Salaudeen. The footage from the hidden camera showed the Islamic cleric raped five-year-old girl. He was promptly arrested by officers of the Nigerian Police Force.

The prosecutor, T. Olanrewaju-Dawodu, told the court that the offense contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The prosecutor told the court that the offence breached Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Signs that your child is being sexually abused

According to the NHS, child sexual abuse, which can happen to both boys and girls,  covers the following:

• Touching a child in a sexual way
• Engaging in sexual activity in front of a child
• Penetrative sex
• Taking and distributing sexual images of a child
• and forcing a child to strip or masturbate

Child sexual abuse is a parent's worse nightmare. Here's how to tell if someone is abusing your children:

• The child could become withdrawn
• bedwetting
• aggressiveness or clinginess
• The child may start engaging in sexually suggestive behavior
• Some children start avoiding their abusers
• Soreness in the genital area
• STDs
• Pregnancy in older children

Resources: NHS

Read Also: Child Pornography: How To Protect Your Child On The Internet