5 in court over alleged rape, theft

A 31-year-old trader, Nwachukwu Bright, who allegedly raped a 21-year-old lady was on Thursday charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Bright was arraigned along with four others on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful sexual intercourse and stealing.

The others are: Nwachukwu Chijindu, 23, a trader; Tunde Adekanbi, 22, and Segun Shina, 23, both security guards and Adebayo Femi, 28, a student.

Bright and Chijindu were granted bail in the sum of N20, 000 with two sureties and one surety in like sum, respectively.

Adekanbi, Shina and Femi were granted bail on self-recognition.

The Prosecutor, ASP Frank Inah, told the court that the accused and one Chijioke, who is at large, committed the offences on Feb. 12 at No. 4, Odusanya St., Ijaiye-Ojokoro, Lagos.

Inah alleged that the complainant was accosted by the accused who begged her to direct them to diamond warehouse, which she told them she did not know.

“They later boarded a tricycle with her and directed the driver to take them to an unknown destination.

“When they got there, it was a warehouse and the complainant was introduced to one Chijioke, the Store keeper, who collected her ATM card and withdrew N19, 000.

“Bright then took her outside the warehouse and raped her,” he said.

Inah said the matter was reported to the Police by the complainant’s parents, after she confessed to them that she was raped.

He said that the offence contravened Sections 258, 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 258 prescribes life imprisonment for convicted offenders, while Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for the offence.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Osinbajo, ordered that the case file should be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), for legal advice.

She then adjourned the case to March 24, for the DPP’s advice. (NAN)