Court remands man, 24, over alleged rape

An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of a 24-year-old man, Elijah Innocent, at the correctional centre in Ado-Ekiti being prosecuted on allegation of rape.

The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing trial for alleged rape.

His plea was, however, not taken by the Chief Magistrate.

The Police prosecutor, Insp Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 19 at about 12:30 a.m., in Oye-Ekiti.

Oriyomi alleged that the defendant raped a 19-year-old student of Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.

He said that according to the statement of the victim, the defendant went to the victim’s hostel, met the victim and her friend and demanded for their phones.

He added that the defendant, thereafter, asked the victim’s friend to go inside the kitchen, and raped her.

According to him, the offence contravenes Section 265(1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in the correctional centre pending legal advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered the remand of the defendant at the correctional centre, pending issuance of legal advice.

He adjourned the case to July 8 for mention.

In a separate matter involving the defendant, Oriyomi told the court that the defendant and others now at large committed an offence of stealing on Feb.2 at about 12:40 p.m in Oye-Ekiti.

He alleged that the defendant and others at large stole one Techno phone and one power bank both valued at N185, 000 belonging to one Ige Favour.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

Oriyomi said the offence contravened Section 302(1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.

However, the counsel to the defendant, Oluwafemi Alabi, urged the court to grant the defendant bail, with a promise that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

He adjourned the case to July 8 for hearing. (NAN)