The police in Osun have arraigned two men, Oluwaseyi Jubrila, 23, and Adelusi Michael, 21, before an Ile-Ife Magistrate’s Court for alleged rape and robbery.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Ona Glory, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on April 18, 2020 around 04:30 am at No 2, Alubata Street, Modakeke-Ife.
Glory said Oluwaseyi conspired with one Michael to rob some residents of the area of their belongings during the lockdown order imposed by the state government to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The prosecutor argued that the two men forced one of the victims aged 23 to bed during the robbery.
The robbery victims, according to the police, are Adenike Adedeji, Damilola Adekanmi and Akinola Kehinde.
Items, including one Itel P32; one Itel A32F, one Samsung A50, one Toshiba laptop, one eye glasses and cash sum of N500 were said to have been carted away by the suspects. The police valued the stolen items at N203,500.
The prosecutor stated further that the offence contravened Sections 383, 357, 390(9), 411 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge of rape, stealing and house burgling preferred against them.
The defence counsel, Samson Adegoke, applied for the defendants’ bail in most liberal terms and promised to provide reliable sureties to stand for them.
Magistrate Joseph Owolawi granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Owolawi added that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, reside within the court’s jurisdiction, adding that one of the sureties must be a civil servant.
The case was adjourned till June 4 for hearing.
