Brothers in court for raping 50-year-old woman

Two brothers, Uba Emehelu and Nnanna Emehelu, have been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping and assaulting a 50-year-old woman.

The incident was said to have occurred at the Orile area of Lagos.

It was learnt that  the victim, whose husband is based in the United States and has a grown up son, had lived in the same flat with the defendants for many years.

She was said to have sub-let two rooms to the brothers when she could no longer afford the full payment of the apartment.

While the victim deals in phone accessories, the two Enugu state indigenes sell textile materials at the Oshodi Market.

Around 10pm on September 4, 2013, the victim was said to have arrived from her shop and settled down in her room to eat.

She became pressed and went to ease herself in the toilet.

But on her return, it was alleged that the 33 year-old Uba pounced on her, forcefully removed her dress and raped  her.

The police told the court on Wednesday that Uba further squeezed her neck to keep her from shouting.

After the act, the police said the victim held Uba to stop him from escaping and began calling for help.

His brother, Nnanna, 32, however assaulted the victim “with fist blows in an effort to free Uba from her grip.”

The brothers were arraigned on three counts of rape and assault.

The charges read in part, “That you, Uba Emehelu, on the 4th day of September, 2013 at 10pm, at 34 Coker Compound, Orile, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did by force have unlawful sexual intercourse with one (name witheld), female, aged 50 years, without her consent.”

The prosecutor, Adebesin Shamsideen, a legal officer from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, said the offences were punishable under Sections 258 and 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and elected summary trial.

The brothers were represented by three lawyers- Dr. K.U Ekweme, E.E Bassey and D.C Makanjuola.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.A Demi-Ajayi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 with a surety “who must be gainfully employed and be resident in Lagos with evidence of tax payment.”

The matter was adjourned till October 28 for trial.

PUNCH