31st March, 2024
By Paul Iyoghojie
Police at the Adeniji Adele Division, Lagos of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested three Lagos Island-based teenagers and charged them before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.
The incident allegedly took place at Thrive Max Hotel located at Olushi Street, Lagos Island.
The culprits were also said to have posted the sexual attack on the internet.
Police identified the perpetrators as Owokoniran Abdulahi, 16, a resident of Obadina Street, Lagos Island; Ololade James, 18, who lives at Tapa Street, Lagos Island and Obafaye Seyi, 16, resides at Ricca Street, Lagos Island, Lagos.
Police alleged that the victim (name withheld) told one of her alleged attackers, Oladele James, who happened to be her boyfriend, that she was no longer interested in their relationship.
The news was said to have angered James who allegedly recruited his three friends to follow him to Thrive Max Hotel to assist him in sexually molesting his girlfriend for daring to end their relationship.
Following the arrangement, James allegedly invited the unsuspecting victim to Thrive Max Hotel purportedly to settle their difference and continue their relationship, meanwhile, his plan was to sexually molest her.
Police alleged that immediately after the victim arrived at the hotel room with James, three of his friends entered the room and that before the victim knew what was happening, James and others allegedly pounced on her inside the hotel room and took turns to have sex with her.
They filmed the sexual exercise and posted it on the internet.
The defendants allegedly warned the victim not to tell anyone about what happened or else she would be killed or initiated into cultism.
Following the warning, the victim kept the assault to herself, but the secret became open when a source called the attention of the victim’s father to the video of his daughter’s sexual molestation circulating on the internet.
The father of the victim after confirming the incident on the internet reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the defendants while one managed to escape.
The arrested three were charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s court on a three-count charge bordering on the defilement of a 16-year-old girl.
Police prosecuting counsel Inspector Kofi Aodohemba informed the court in the charge marked TC/20/2024 that the defendants committed the offence on 27 February 2024 at Thrive Max Hotel located at Olushi Street, Lagos Island, Lagos.
Aodohemba told the court that the second defendant, Ololade James recruited others to help him sexually molest his girlfriend.
Police alleged that immediately after the victim arrived at the hotel room with James, three of his friends entered the room and that before the victim knew what was happening, James and others allegedly pounced on her and took turns to have sex with her, filmed the sexual exercise and posted it on the internet.
The defendants allegedly warned the victim not to tell anyone about what happened or else she would be killed or initiated into cultism.
Following the warning, the victim kept the assault to herself, but the secret became open when a source called the attention of the victim’s father to the video of his daughter’s sexual molestation circulating on the internet.
The father of the victim after confirming the incident on the internet reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the defendants while one managed to escape.
The arrested three were charged before the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court on a three-count charge bordering on the defilement of a 16-year-old girl.
Aodohemba said the offences committed were punishable under Section 263(1), 411 and 260 (1) (2) (4) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The pleas of the defendants were not taken and Chief Magistrate, Mrs Omoyele ordered that the defendants be detained at the Special Correctional Facility for Senior Boys at Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos pending DPP’s advice on the matter.