BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered that a 20-year-old boy, Oluwatofunmi Tope, should be remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre over allegation of rape.
Tope, according to the police, committed the act on August 18, 2021 at house 7, Abidogun Street, Ota-Efun, Osogbo.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Temitope Fatoba, informed the court that the defendant forced the young girl to bed without her consent.
The charge against him reads, “That Oluwatofunmi Tope, on 18th August, 2021, at Number 7, Abidogun Street, Ota-Efun, Osogbo, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, forcefully and unlawfully had carnal knowledge of one Feranmi Aroyehan.”
Fatoba said that the defendant committed an offence contrary to Section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun State, Nigeria, 2002.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of rape.
The defence counsel, Oladipupo Tunbosun, prayed the court to grant Tope bail in a most liberal term on the ground that he had reliable people to stand his surety.
However, the prosecutor opposed the bail application on the ground that the victim could jump bail if granted.
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, in his ruling on the bail application, ordered that Tope be remanded in custody while his counsel should furnish the court with a formal bail application.
The matter was adjourned till October 22 for hearing.
