Painters arrested over alleged rape

Two painters, Taiwo Azeez  and Isiaka Taofeek have been arrested for alleged rape of one Kikelomo (surname withheld), a 28-year-old lady in Meiran-Ijaiye area of Lagos State.

The suspects were said to have been apprehended on June 28, while they were working within the victim’s residence.

The suspects, however, told Lagos Metro that they were not responsible for the rape and that they had gone to the place to assist a friend who is into painting business.

Taiwo explained that, “My friend invited me to help him in painting the house. It’s a three bedroom apartment. We decided to apportion each room to one person. I had finished painting the room apportioned to me and wanted to assist my friend in painting the other room when the lady told me that he likes the way I painted the room, and that was all.

“After sometimes, the police came to arrest three of us. But one of us has been released. I was told that they saw sperm on the lady’s body. I told them that I am innocent and they should take my sperm, test it to see if it is the same with the one they found on the lady.”

The other suspect, Isiaka said that he was about going for his own business when his friend called him to help him with the painting job.

He said, “I am a technician, I was about going for my business when my friend told me about the panting job. While we were doing our job, the lady came and was saying something but I don’t even understand what she was saying. We were almost done with the job when the police came to arrest us.”

The suspects were arraigned before an Ebutte Meta court, on Thursday and were arraigned on a two- count charge.

The suspects, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge levelled against them.