Queen Nwabueze
The Lagos State Government has re-arraigned an on-air personality, Uche Igwe, popularly known as Darksam, for allegedly sharing the sex tape video of a Chrisland School student on social media.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIgwe, aged 40, was re-arraigned on Tuesday before a Magistrate Court sitting in the Yaba area of Lagos on a fresh one-count charge.
The defendant was earlier arraigned in May, this year by the Nigerian Police on a two-count charge of cyberstalking and breach of peace to which he pleaded not guilty.
The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), through its counsel, Omolola Saliu, re-arraigned the defendant on a fresh one-count charge before Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo.
Igwe was said to have committed the crime in the Lagos Magisterial District through his social media handle (@uchedark) on or about the 18th of April, 2022.
The offence is said to be contrary to section 23 (2) of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law 2021.
If found guilty, the defendant risks a seven-year custodial sentence.
The trial has been adjourned till the 28th of September, 2022.
In the heat of the sex tape, it will be recalled that in Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had stressed his administration would continue to “formulate and implement policies and systems that are compliant with the Executive Order (NO.EO/AA08 of 2016), Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme.”
You will also recall that the Lagos State Government had warned members of the public to desist from distributing footage of students of Chrisland Schools engaging in an “immoral act.”
The state government, in a statement had warned citizens that sharing such footage amounts to child pornography and could attract up to a 14-year jail term.
“This is to reassure members of the public of the State Government’s commitment to safety and child protection.
“[This is] especially in ensuring that all child-centred institutions within the state, formulate and implement policies and systems that are compliant with the Executive Order (NO.EO/AAO8 of 2016), Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Program.
“We also use this medium to remind the general public of the implications pertaining to engaging in any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child committing an offence.
“[They are] liable to a custodial sentence of fourteen (14) years. This includes producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing an image of child pornography.”
“In the meantime, all Chrisland schools within Lagos State are hereby closed, pending further investigations,” the statement read in part.
