Court remands cobbler, teenager in custody for alleged rape

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Friday remanded a 26-year-old cobbler, Sheriff Akintola and a teenage tailor, in prison custody for alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.


The Chief magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, remanded the first accused in Kirikiri Prison and the teenager in Boys Correctional Centre, Oregun, Lagos.

Elias adjourned the case till Feb. 17 for the hearing of the application for bail.

The defendants were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, sexual assault and rape.

Sheriff and the teenager, who reside at No. 2 and No.5 Amoo Street, Dalemo, Orile Agege, a suburb of Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the offences were committed at Atobaje Street, Agege, Lagos on Jan. 10.

Aigbokhan said the victim was sent on an errand by her mother and that on her way home, she was held down by the defendants and dragged inside a school field.

``The first defendant touched her breast while the second accused raped her, she shouted but her voice was not heard.
``Since then, the defendant had been on the run until Jan. 11 when the victim sighted the first defendant and shouted for help and he was apprehended,’’ he said.

He said the offences contravened Sections 135, 259 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.