Rape: 2 Friends Docked

Two friends, Chima Okorie, 23 and Suleiman Sarafa, 23 have been charged before the Apapa Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, for allegedly raping a 22-year old woman.

The accused were alleged to have grabbed the victim on Kema Road, Ijora-Badia, Apapa, Lagos State at about 8p.m. while she was returning home from work.

It was gathered that the accused overpowered her, stuffed her mouth with a cloth to prevent her from making noise, tore her pant, and took turns to have sex with her.

They were caught by a police team on patrol while one of their friends escaped.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. A. K. Shonubi, granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties.

The sureties, she directed, must show evidence of means of livelihood.

He adjourned the matter till 10 June, 2011 for trial and ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, Apapa, pending the fulfillment of the conditions attached to their bail.

—Cyriacus Izuekwe