18th January, 2013
For the third time, a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court on Friday adjourned the trial of Arthur Obiora, the Facebook lover, who allegedly attempted to rape one Nkiruka Akabuogu at 1004 Flats, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The magistrate, Martins Owumi, said he decided to adjourn the case following the absence of the complainant (Akabuogu) and her family in court.
He fixed Feb. 6 for hearing of the case.
Counsel to the accused, Mr I. O. Fubara, told the court that the family of Obiora and Akabuogu had “entered into discussions on how to resolve the case amicably’’.
Obiora, 26, is facing a three-count charge of threat to life, attempted rape and causing bodily harm to 21-year-old Akabuogu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obiora was first arraigned on Nov. 9, 2012. Akabuogu was absent in court when the case came up on Dec. 12, 2012.
The prosecutor, ASP A. C. Orji, had told the court that Obiora met Akabuogu, an undergraduate in the Department of Linguistics, University of Lagos, on Facebook, a social media network.
He said the accused subsequently invited her to a nightclub in Apapa on Oct. 31, after which they retired to his home at Block 10, Flat 317, 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island.
Orji said Obiora, who claimed to be an unemployed graduate of Igbinedion University, Okada, and the Centennial College, Ontario, Canada, shut all the doors in the apartment and demanded to have sex with Akabuogu.
He said:“The accused tried to rape her and also threatened to kill her with a bottle of beer when she refused.
“The girl, fearing for her life, then jumped down from the third floor of the high-rise building.
“Nkiruka was discovered lying unconscious in a pool of her own blood about 30 minutes later by security men in the premises, who then reported the incident to the police.
“The police took the girl to a hospital and after she regained consciousness, obtained her statement.’’
The prosecutor said the offences which were committed at 3.00 a.m. on Oct. 31 contravened Sections 56 (a), 260 and 404 (1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State
The magistrate had granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
NAN also reports that Akabuogu sustained multiple injuries, including a fractured pelvis, and was admitted at the General Hospital, Marina, Lagos.(NAN)