Two men – Murtala Lukman, 32, and Musibau Owolabi, 25, have been arrested by the police for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl on May 9, 2014 at their apartment in 122 Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos.
The suspects who lived in the same neighborhood with the victim were caught while carrying out their devious act and handed over to the police.
The victim who pleaded anonymity, said she was tricked into the room of the suspects around 1pm on the fateful day and brutally raped.
Lukman and Owolabi were docked before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on two counts of rape.
The charge reads in part, “That you, Murtala Lukman and Musibau Owolabi, on May 9, 2014 at about 1pm, at 122 Adeniji Adele Road, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with one (name withheld) without her consent.”
The police prosecutor in charge of the case, DSP E.J. Nkankuk, said the offence was punishable under sections 409 and 25 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them.
Nkankuk then told the court that the investigating police officer alone was in court, while the victim and her parents were unavailable.
The Chief Magistrate, E.B. Daodu granted the suspects bail in liberal terms after the defense counsel, R.A. Jimoh had requested for it.
According to the Chief Magistrate, “The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
“The sureties must be gainfully employed in a reputable organisation and must deposit N50,000 into the account of the Chief Registrar of the High Court which is refundable upon the completion of the case. They must also show evidence of tax payment for three years.”
The victim was taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for medical check-up and counselling, while the suspects where ordered to remain in prison pending when they would meet their bail conditions.
The case was adjourned till June 18 for further hearing.
