BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, on Friday, ordered the remand of a set of twins, Taye and Kehinde Olabode, alongside an accomplice, Yusuf Bakare, for allegedly gang-raping a girl, Rukayat Adeyemo.
Police prosecuting officer, Inspector Temitope Fatoba, informed the court that the trio and others, now at large, committed the act around 7:00pm at Oke-Abuja Area, Iragbiji, Osun State, in March 2021.
Fatoba explained that the defendants, all aged 20, filmed the victim while having carnal knowledge of her and later published her nudes on social media. He argued that the development defamed Bakare’s character and it was done in a bid to intimidate her.
“That you Olabode Kehinde Afeez and Olabode Taye, Bakare Yusuf and others, now at large, in the month of March at about 7pm, at Oke-Abuja Area, Iragbiji, did conspire among yourselves to unlawfully have carnal knowledge of one Adeyemo Rukayat and indecently assault her.
“That you (defendants) and others now at large, at the same time and area, with intent to cause annoyance, insult, injury, intimidation, enmity or needless anxiety to one Adeyemo Rukayat, did intentionally post on a social media, nude photographs of Adeyemo Rukayat after being sexually assaulted,” the charge sheet obtained by The Point read in part.
Fatoba argued that the young defendants committed offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 516, 358, 360, 24(1)(b), 373, 249(d) and 375 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002 and of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act 2015.
The defendants who appeared before Magistrate A. O. Daramola pleaded not guilty to the 7-count-charge, including rape, indecent assault, defamation of character and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Defence counsel, Najite Okobe, prayed the court to grant bail to the defendants and noted that they were presumed to be innocent once pleaded not guilty.
But the Prosecuting officer opposed the oral bail application on the ground that granting them bail could jeopardise investigations as there were other accomplices that were still on the run.
He argued further that should they be granted bail, the three defendants could abscond and relocate to another State.
While delivering her ruling, Magistrate Daramola remanded the trio at Ilesa Correctional Center and transferred the case to Iragbiji Magisterial District for further hearing on August 16.
