The Zone 2 Police Command, Lagos, has nabbed and paraded an hotelier and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Leuven Empire Hotel and Suites, Ejigbo, Lagos, simply identified as Macdonald, for allegedly sodomising a 16-year-old secondary school boy.
The suspect denied using the boy for rituals but confessed to having sex with him twice.
The boy’s father, Edozie Christian, a spare parts dealer at Ladipo market, explained that the suspect lured his son and four other teenagers to his hotel, where he sodomised them and gave them strict warning against revealing the incident to anyone otherwise they would die.
The boy’s father reported the incident to the police, leading to the suspect’s arrest.
In a video shared by TVC News on Thursday after his arrest, the hotelier swore that he did not use the boy for rituals, but he had sex with him twice.
“I swear with my life, that it is only sex that I had with him (Chiagoziem), that I never used him for any ritual. I swear in the name of my late parents that are in the grave, I swear with my children that I never did anything ritual it was just sex,” he stated.
The Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos State paraded Macdonald before journalist on Wednesday at the command headquarters, Onikan, Lagos for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old boy.
CSP Umma Ayuba, the Zonal Public Relations Officer, disclosed that the suspect was accused of engaging in an act contrary to natural order.
This came after the father of the 16-year-old victim filed a petition on January 23 to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade.
“The petition alleged that the suspect engaged in unlawful sexual acts with the minor.
“Upon receipt of the petition, Fayoade assigned CSP. Bangajiya Uba to conduct a discreet investigation into the matter.
“The victim, initially fearful of speaking out due to threats allegedly made by the suspect, confided in his mother.
“He recounted that the suspect warned him that disclosing the incident would result in him losing his sanity,” Ayuba said.
The Zone 2 PRO pointed out that after the mother put his mind at rest, the victim detailed how the suspect had sexual intercourse with him.
“The victim narrated how the suspect had taken him from the hotel in his vehicle to his residence at No. 4B, Oshoba Street, Akowonjo-Egbeda, Lagos, where he was forcefully subjected to unlawful sexual acts.
“Following the incident, the suspect allegedly provided the victim with a bottle of Lucozade Boost and N5000 cash.
“Upon this revelation, the victim’s parents reported the matter to the Isheri-Osun Police Division, ” Ayuba said.
The PRO explained that an investigation was launched, but instead of cooperating with the authorities, the suspect ignored police invitations and made efforts to obstruct the process.
“Seeing that the accused was seeking to evade justice, the victim’s father escalated the matter to the Zone 2 Command Headquarters, where the hotelier was subsequently apprehended.
“To ascertain the veracity of the claims, the victim underwent medical examination at Mirabel Medical Centre, ” she said.
Ayuba disclosed that a crucial witness, a close friend of the victim who was at the hotel when the incident occurred, confirmed the claims, reinforcing the victim’s testimony.
“This friend confirmed that the suspect had been engaging in unlawful acts with the victim and had also attempted a similar act with him, which he resisted.
“He further presented recorded telephone conversations, chat histories, and video evidence filmed by the victim within the suspect’s residence using the suspect’s own phone.
“Initially, the suspect denied knowing the victim. However, when confronted with evidence, he admitted to taking him to his residence.
“The suspect allegedly threatened the victim with psychological harm should he reveal the incident, and since making his confession, the victim has exhibited signs of mental distress,” she said.
The Zone 2 Police Public Relations Officer revealed that the investigation uncovered misconduct by the original Investigating Police Officer.
The officer is accused of altering the case file by removing an important witness statement before the case was handed over to the Zone 2 Command Headquarters.
“The IPO has since been detained and is undergoing disciplinary procedures.
“Contrary to certain media reports, the medical report from Mirabel Medical Centre remains authentic and has not been tampered with in anyway, ” she said.
She stated that the victim is receiving medical care, and once the investigation concludes, the suspect will be formally charged in court.
In addition to the original allegations, the suspect is accused of enticing five other teenagers to his hotel, where he allegedly subjected them to similar abuse. He reportedly intimidated the boys, threatening them with death if they revealed what had happened.
Ayuba noted that AIG Fayoade has called on parents and guardians to stay alert, take proactive measures to protect their children, and offer the necessary guidance to shield them from harmful influences.
