The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rape

  • Driver held for attempted rape

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court has remanded in prison a 19-year-old driver, Wahid Rasheed, who allegedly attempted to rape three female factory workers in the staff toilet.

    He will remain in custody until he fulfils his bail conditions.

    Rasheed, of 23, Efun Street, Ibadan, Oyo State, is being triad by Chief Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi.

    Prosecuting Inspector Raphael Donny said the defendant committed the offence on November 5 at 11am at 6, Ayodele Diyan Street, Ikeja Industrial Estate, Lagos.

    He alleged that Rasheed attempted to rape Olusola Bolaji, Victoria Daniel and Alawode Abosede, of Imperio International Limited.

    Read also: Businessman in court over rape of minor

    Donny alleged that Rasheed entered the female toilet on the pretext of searching for water  and sexually harassed the complainants, injuring one of them for refusing his sexual advance.

    He said the victims shouted for help following which the defendant was caught by the company’s guard and handed over to the police.

    Rasheed pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi granted him  N100,000 bail,  with two sureties in the like sum.

    The sureties, she said, must be employed with evidence of three years’ tax payment. Their addresses are to be verified by the registrar.

    Osunsanmi adjourned till December 10.

  • Driver held for ‘raping’ two-year-old girl

    The police in Lagos have arrested a commercial bus driver for alleged defilement of his neighbour’s two-year-old girl.

    Sola Ewulo, 38, a resident of Taiwo Street, Agbado-Ijaiye was arrested on October 24 after the victim’s mother reported that sperm was seen dripping from her body.

    Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal said the victim’s mother had allegedly left her in the custody of the suspect to run an arrand, an allegation Ewulo refuted.

    Edgal said: “The mother of the victim had on that day, left her in the care of the suspect and dashed into the neighbourhood to buy some provisions.

    “When she returned after a couple of minutes, she could not find her daughter nor the man she left her with.

    “Much later, she saw her daughter on the corridor of the house scratching her private parts and she complained about the pains she was experiencing.

    Read Also: APC dismisses Nnamani’s expulsion

    “On closer examination by her mother, she noticed some whitish substance dripping out of her private parts.”
    Alarmed by the discovery, Edgal said the victim’s mother asked her who did that to her and she mentioned Ewulo.

    He said the suspect would be charged to court.

    However, Ewolu denied the allegation, insisting that he went out for a job he was called to do.

    He said: “I was not even around. It is not true that the mother left her with me. She usually left her with neighbours not anyone in particular. That day, I was not even around.

    “I was told that sperm was seen on the child’s body and she said I was the one that did it. I do not know anything about it. I have three daughters and so, how will I do that to a little girl?”

  • Lecturer remanded for alleged rape, murder

    A Magistrates’ Court in Benue State has remanded a 51-year-old senior lecturer in the Department of Catering and Hotel Management, Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Mr. Andrew Ogbuja, at the Federal Prison, Makurdi.

    He was charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

    The lecturer was accused of defiling Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje, a 13-year-old pupil of the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Gboko, Benue State.

    Her death has drawn sympathy across the country, following reports that she was allegedly raped several times by the lecturer.

    It was also alleged that his son, Andrew, a student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi defiled the deceased, who was under their care.

    When the case came up, the First Information Report (FIR) read to the accused showed that on October 22, the case was reported by Evangelist Enuwa Soo, female, of 2/4, Potter Avenue, Otada in Otukpo Local Government, through a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command.

    According to the FIR, on June 23, the family of Miss Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje, female, of Agene Amen, Okpokwu Local Government, aged 13, noticed that Andrew Ogbuja, male, a lecturer with Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo and his son, Victor Ogbuja, had been having carnal knowledge of her since she was living with them, which resulted in her being diagnosed with VVF and other diseases.

    “Ochanya was hospitalised at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi where she later died on October 17.”

    The court further heard that during police investigation, Andrew Ogbuja was arrested.

    The offence is contrary to sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue State 2004.

    Counsel to the accused, Anthony Onoja, however, observed that the media have been awash with reports of his client, who has not been proved guilty.

    He said if care is not taken, such reports will not allow the matter to go on smoothly.

    Onoja appealed to the judge to protect them (lawyers) from journalists and caution the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

    He said he has no objection to the remand of his client.

    However, the Magistrate, Isaac Ajim, overruled Onoja, saying no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction.

    He ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Prison, Makurdi.

    The case was adjourned till November 29 for further mention.

     

    Women groups protest

    •’We seek justice’

    Women groups led by the National Council of Women Society (NCWS) and the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) yesterday protested alleged sexual molestation of the late Ochanya Ogbanje.

    They called for the prosecution of the suspects.

    Addressing reporters after the sitting, the President, NCWS, Benue State chapter, Mrs. Okochi, said Benue women were in pains over what happened to Ochanya and what other women in the country were going through.

    She added: “We are not going to take it lightly. We need justice in this case. I implore the police to arrest and prosecute the lecturer’s son and his mother.

    “I thank God that before the girl died, she confirmed that the lecturer and his son raped her several times.”

    Security men had a hectic time controlling the angry women, who carried placards.

     

     

  • Man, 34, remanded in prison over rape of girl

    A Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded a 34-year-old man, Musa Idris, in prison over alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl.

    Idris, whose residential address was not given, was arraigned on a four-count charge of rape, indecent assault, sexual assault and breach of peace.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, SP Akpan Ikem, had told the court that the accused committed the offences at about 2 p.m. on Aug. 24, at Zongo area of Seme Border, Badagry, Lagos State.

    Ikem alleged that the accused had sexual intercourse with the 13-year-old girl in violation of Sections 168 and 261 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    “He did sexually touch the girl without her consent and violated Section 261 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Read Also: Army kills several Boko Haram members, recovers livestock

    “Idris did indecently and unlawfully deal with the young girl without her consent and thereby violated Section 135 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    “Idris also did conduct himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl by having sex with her.

    “This act violated Section 166 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, ‘’ the prosecutor said.

    Ikem told the court that the offences committed were punishable under Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaya, ordered that the accused be remanded in Badagry prison and adjourned the case until Oct. 3, for further hearing.

  • The other side of rape

    SIR: It will be foolhardy for any right thinking person to defend the actions of some perverts who rape women these days. Some by lecturers in tertiary institutions. How these people were recruited to teach beggars belief. And why many youngsters today are stampeded into the universities by parents is also cause for concern.

    Many say it wouldn’t be fair to blame only lecturers for taking advantage of girls in tertiary institutions? How about those girls who suffer from cultural cringes, those who wear clothes that are totally alien to our clime, clothes they see in western movies, worn only to shoot videos and not worn by responsible females on the streets of Europe and America?

    I shudder to think about the kinds of children the society breeds today. I was in a fast food chain the other day and saw a pupil now turned teenager that I had the privilege of looking after as a head teacher (primary), many years back. She wore a loose outfit, and I had to tell her how unhappy I was at her choice of dress. She is now in a university.

    Don’t get me wrong, this is not a profiling exercise, but I am told by experts that the type of dress worn encourages or discourages rape.

    The idea of school for some youngsters today is a place where they must express themselves wrongly. Unfortunately, our universities are not custodians of archetypes anymore and these ones do not know anything but to express self wrongly.

    Schools need to strictly enforce the dress code. Secondary schools need to organize orientation programmes for would-be school leavers, principally on how they should manage time outside school and decent behavioural – habits in the universities. Parents need to delay rushing off children who aren’t mentally ready to look after themselves in higher institutions.

    Could they consider allowing them work for a year or two, even if it means without salary to gain experience in a vocation of their choice? This will toughen them up to face life alone.

    * Civil rights organisations should work with all Nigerian universities to make our girls dress sanely in our schools that will help to reduce cases of rape.,

    The federal government should take the higher step of black-listing lecturers caught in the web of rape and banish them permanently from that noble profession as agents of state. The university authorities, lecturers, hall wardens should send girls who dress loosely, out of the halls of residence, lecture halls, and the university environment. The police must be quick to investigate matters of rape, and prosecute offenders in court as a national emergency.

    Isn’t it time we restored order in the real sense before rape in civilized environments become a culture.

     

    • Simon Abah, Abuja.

  • Man, 39, bags 10 years for rape in Enugu

    An Enugu State High Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39 year old man, Ede Eze to 10 years imprisonment for rape.

    The trial judge, Justice Ngozi Oji had on Tuesday, last week, convicted the accused on a one count charge but subsequently suspended the sentence till Wednesday. ‎

    The charge reads: “Ede Eze on or about the 2nd day of September, 2014 at Ubahu Community in Enugu East Local Government area of Enugu state had carnal knowledge of one Oluchukwu John without her consent, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 309 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 30 volume II laws of Enugu state of Nigeria, 2004”.

    However, pronouncing the 10 years jail term the court said it was to serve as a deterrent to others who see rape as just something ordinary or minor.

    The judge stressed that it was disheartening that rape cases have become prevalent in our society.

    The prosecuting counsel, Ngozi Okoye, thanked the judge for the courage to hand down the 10 years sentence.

    She said the sentence was in order and is a welcome development due to the prevalence of rape not only in Enugu state but also in other parts of the country.

    She encouraged other women who have been abused or had gone through any form of sexual violence to come to Tama Sexual Assault Centre Enugu (TAMASAC), report their case for immediate redress.

    Okoye warned those in the act of rape to know that rape is a crime, “not only against an individual but also against the society. The long arm of the law will definitely catch-up with you if you are found guilty of rape.”

    The Enugu State Commissioner, Ministry of Gender Affairs, Princess Peace Nnaji, who was in the court said that with the judgment, history has been made. “People are taking the case of rape for granted but today they have seen that case of rape is very serious. To hand down a jail term of 10 years is not something to be joked with. Anybody that is involve in a rape or contemplating of raping anybody has to think twice.”

    She promised that Enugu State government would continue to do everything possible to dissuade those contemplating committing rape in the state.

  • Man charged with raping neighbour’s 11-year-old daughter

    The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Lagos State has recommended the trial of a 70-year-old man, Sylvester Ike, for the alleged rape of his neighbour’s 11-year-old daughter.

    The DPP issued the advice last Thursday at an Ajegunle Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, following which the Magistrate, Mrs. O.M. Ajayi, adjourned till September 20

    The report noted, among others, that the girl’s complaint to the police raised several questions that required answers from the defendant.

    Read Also:Former Bayelsa governor’s aide docked over alleged rape

    The girl complained that the defendant summoned her to his room on the pretext of sending her on an errand. When she came to him, he locked his door and sexually assaulted her.

    She said: “After he finished, he asked me not to tell anyone. When I got to the house, I sat on the sofa and was crying. When my mother came, she asked me what was wrong. I couldn’t tell her because of the threat.

    “My mother pulled me up and saw that my skirt was soaked in blood. She took me inside the room and asked me who did this to me, and then I told her that it was Mr. Ike that did it.”

    Ike, of No. 3, Remi Street, Ojo, Lagos, was brought before the court last June by the police on a temporary one-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

    Prosecuting Inspector Augustine Ejembi alleged that the defendant committed the offence at about 9pm on March 10, in his apartment.

    The court heard that Ike had unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Ike pleaded not guilty.

  • Adviser to ex-Bayelsa governor arraigned for ‘rape’

    A former security adviser to ex-Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, Chief Richard Kpodo, was at the weekend arraigned at a Magistrates’ Court in Yenagoa for alleged intent to defile.

    The accused was charged with unlawfully detaining Teke Blessing on June 20 in Etegwe, Yenagoa, with intent to defile her. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    His counsel, Funilaifa Seibokuro, urged the court to grant him bail, which was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Ayibatonye Jumbo.

    Seibokuro said the offence for which Kpodo was arraigned was a bailable one, adding that his client, a well-known politician, will be available to face trial.

    He said the suspect had medical challenges and pleaded that he be granted bail on self-recognition.

    The prosecuting counsel said if granted bail, the accused would interfere and influence the prosecution witness and jeopardise his trial.

    He faulted the claim by the defence counsel that the accused had medical challenges, as there is no medical report to support it.

    The court, presided over by Mrs. E.T.M. Ere, adjourned the case till August 10 for ruling on the bail application, and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

     

  • Police arrest 18 men for raping 11-year-old in India

    Police said 18 men have been arrested for raping an 11-year-old school girl for several months in an apartment complex in the eastern Indian city of Chennai.

    The hearing-impaired girl was allegedly sedated and given spiked soft drinks by the accused, which include the building’s security guard and lift operator.

    The men, aged between 23 and 66 years old, made videos of the crime, blackmailed the girl and threatened her with dire consequences if she approached the police.

    Read Also:Rape: Indian court upholds death sentence for three men

    The girl’s parents lodged a complaint with the city police on Sunday after the girl narrated her ordeal to her elder sister.

    “We arrested all the 18 accused for the heinous crime,” a local police office said on condition of anonymity.

    “They sexually assaulted [her] multiple times in a storage room on the building terrace over the past seven months.”

    The accused appeared before a court that sent them to jail pending trial.

    They have been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

    The Indian government recently approved stringent punishments for sexual violence against children, including the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls younger than 12 years.

    The decision came amid spiralling outrage over the rape and killing of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir and several other cases of sexual assault involving minors in recent months.

     

  • Trader in court over defilement of 9-year-old girl

    An 18-year-old trader, Lawal Daura, on Tuesday appeared in Daura Road Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kaduna over alleged defilement of a 9-year-old girl.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Hinga Nyimze, told the court that one Tukur Ibrahim reported the case at the Rigasa Police Divisional Headquarters in Kaduna on June 19.

    He said the defendant, a resident of Tukur Ibrahim in Kaduna, committed the offence on June 2 and charged with defilement.

    Nyimze said that the girl was returning home from Islamiya School on June 2, at about 2.00 p.m. when the accused lured her into his room and forcefully had unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

    Read Also: Trader docked for defiling minor in Lagos

    The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant was arrested after the girl reported the act to her mother, adding that the defendant confessed to the crime during police investigation.

    Nyimze said the offence contravened Section 209 of the Penal Code Laws of Kaduna state 2017.

    The Magistrate, Mr Abdulaziz Ibrahim, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison, pending advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The magistrate, who refused to take the plea of the defendant, adjourned the case until Aug. 2, for hearing.

    NAN