Magistrate court remands five in prison over rape

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, has ordered the remand of five accused to prison for gang-raping two teenagers.

The five accused which included: Bode Akinsiku, Femi Olabanji, Abiodun Ayodele, Wahab Fadairo and Adebayo Adedayo, were arraigned before a Chief Magistrate court on a six-count charge.

The charges include, conspiracy, rape, defamation of character, torture and videotaping nakedly among others, which according to the Prosecutor, Inspector Bernard Olagbayi, are contrary to section 516, 351, 360, 367, 359 and 375 of the criminal code Cap 37 Vol. 1 laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

According to the prosecutor, the five accused were alleged to have tortured and unlawfully have Mr knowledge of the two teenage girls and recorded the processes before posting it on their Facebook page and other social media for the purpose of exposing them to hatred.

The accused persons were alleged to have forcefully compelled the two girls to strip naked, describing the action as inhuman and against the order of nature.

The five accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences when the charges were read to them.

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Counsels to the five accused persons, Mr. Adesanmi Olarewaju, O.A Akinbinu and A.J Akindele respectively, urged the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms, promising that the accused will not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate Mrs B.F Ajibade, however, ordered the remand of the five accused to prison till June 21, 2018.