By Ado Oyeyemi
The Head of the Igala Community in Lagos State, Muhammad Salifu Shaibu, has been arraigned over the alleged defilement of a teenager in 2023.
The Secretary of the Amonu Igala Ujah Ache Council, Daniel Omeje, disclosed this in an update made available to City Round on Wednesday.
Omeje said the arraignment followed an investigation by the Gender Office in Ikeja into the allegations against the 58-year-old community leader.
He said, “Following a careful and thorough investigation conducted by the Gender Office in Ikeja, Mr Muhammad Salifu Shaibu has officially been charged to court.
“At the recent court session, Chief George listened to the arguments and submissions from all parties involved in the case.
Following the deliberations, the matter has been adjourned until November 19, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.”
Omeje added that the community would continue to monitor the proceedings and provide updates as the case progresses.
Salifu was arrested on September 16 by officers of the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, alongside personnel from the Ogudu Police Station, after he allegedly resisted arrest.
City Round had earlier reported that Salifu, his wife and one Isah Ayegba were detained following the allegations.
His wife and Ayegba were subsequently released, while Omeje said community elders intervened to facilitate Salifu’s release on bail after concerns were raised about his deteriorating health.
He said those released were required to report to the Gender Office on the following Monday as part of the conditions attached to their administrative release.
Meanwhile, a letter written by the Igala Youth Community to the mother of the alleged survivor, Mrs Elizabeth Yakubu, appealed to her to withdraw the case from the police.
The group said it wanted to prevent the matter from developing into a court case that could cause division within the leadership of the Onu Igala in Lagos State.
Saturday PUNCH had reported on September 6 that the teenager was allegedly raped twice by Salifu at a hotel in Ojota, Lagos, in December 2023, when she was 15 years old.
According to the teenager’s mother, the girl later became pregnant, while Salifu initially denied responsibility before allegedly acknowledging the pregnancy and offering N50,000 for an abortion, an offer the family rejected.
A petition by the family’s lawyer, Kazeem Adebanjo, alleged that the teenager subsequently underwent a Caesarean section after prolonged labour, but the baby died shortly after birth.
The lawyer further alleged that the teenager suffered complications which damaged her womb, while her father also died during the family’s ordeal.
The family had reported the matter to the Ketu Police Station, the Gender Unit and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, which referred the case to the police for investigation.
Commenting on the development, the Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said Salifu had been charged with defilement under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
She said the Lagos State Government maintained its zero-tolerance position on sexual and gender-based violence and would ensure that the matter was handled through the appropriate legal and institutional channels.
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Vivour-Adeniyi added that the government remained committed to due process, survivor support and ensuring access to justice.
