Thursday 27 February 2014

Hoodlums Rape 2 Female Students At UniOsun

Two female students of the Osun State University (UniOsun) were allegedly raped at the weekend while several male students were brutalised by hoodlums who stormed their hostels located outside the Osogbo Main Campus of the university.

The hoodlums numbering about 12 were said to have invaded the students area situated at Oke Baale, Suzzy Hotel area of Osogbo, Sunday night and carted away the students’ belongings while male students who did not possess valuable items were beaten severely.

Sources said the hoodlums who were armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons carried out their ungodly acts simultaneously in about three different hostels in the area.

It was gathered that the hoodlums perpetrated the act at Diamind Hostel and Marvellous Hostel among others in a location close to the main campus, where they carted away items including laptops, phones, jewellery and an undisclosed amount of money among other valuable items.

The injured students were said to have been taken to an undisclosed hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, some concerned students on Monday took to the Osogbo Main Campus to protest the incident, lamented that it was not the first in the recent past and challenged the school management to find a lasting solution.

Assistant Registrar, Corporate Affairs of the institution, Mr Marcus Awobifa, who confirmed the incident, said security agencies had been alerted of the development.

LeadershipNGA

Man, 65, Remanded For Raping 9-year-old Girl

An Oredo Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday remanded a 65-year-old man, Benjamin Amadi in prison custody for allegedly defiling a 9-year-old girl.

The accused person was alleged to have committed the offence on January 13, 2014 at a house between 1st and 2nd East Circular Road, Benin City.

He however pleaded not guilty to the one count charge preferred against him, which is punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Peter Asemota said the accused person’s bail would be considered in the course of the trial.

In a reaction, coordinator of the Edo State Child Protection Network (CPN), Jennifer Ero, said the fight against sexual and other related forms of abuse on children is a continuous one that must be won and called on citizens and residents of the state and other stakeholders to be committed to the cause with a view to discouraging child molesters, even as she urged them to report such cases to the police for necessary.

LeadershipNGA

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Man, 33, sentenced to five years imprisonment for rape

An Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced Olalekan Olanlokun, 33, to five years imprisonment with hard labour for raping a 10-year-old girl.

Olanlokun, who lives at Ojo area of Lagos, was arraigned on a two-count charge of defilement and breach of peace.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, convicted Olanlokun after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

“Based on the facts before this court, I hereby sentence you to five years imprisonment with hard labour and with no option of fine,” Adelaja said.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, SP Soji Ojaokomo, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 30, 2013, at the Ojo area of Lagos.

He told the court that on the fateful day, Olanlokun forcefully had carnal knowledge of the complainant, who was left under his care.

The prosecutor said that the accused threatened to kill her if she told her parents about the incident, adding that the offences contravened sections 137 and 166 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Source

Monday 24 February 2014

Man, 35, Held In Prison Over Alleged Rape

An Osogbo Magistrate’s Court on Monday ordered Faheem Onalore, 35, to be remanded in Ilesa Prison for allegedly committing rape.

The Magistrate, Mrs Halima Bashiru, said the order was due to the gravity of the offence.

The prosecutor, Mireti Wilson, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Feb. 14, at about 9.30p.m., at Iwo area.

Wilson said that the accused had an unlawful carnal knowledge of a 13 year old girl without her consent.

He said the offence contravened Sections 31 (1) and (2) of the Criminal Code of Osun, 2003.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge when read to him.

The counsel to the accused, Mrs Nnenna Ugwu, prayed the court to grant her client bail in most liberal terms.

The magistrate said a formal application for bail should be filed by the defense counsel in the next date of hearing.

The magistrate adjourned the case to March 5 for hearing. (NAN)

Guard rapes woman while returning from vigil


Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate Court

A security man, Kelly Ochuko, has been accused of raping a 24-year-old lady, Tivere, while she was returning from a vigil at the Synagogue Church of All Nation.

The police said the incident happened around 2am on Mutiatu Street, Ikotun, Lagos State.

It was learnt that the victim had travelled to Lagos from Sapele, Delta State, to participate in the Pastor Temitope Joshua’s midnight programme.

Around 2am, she had left for her lodgings when 27-year-old Ochukwo allegedly accosted her.
The security man, who was employed by the Igando Landlord’s Association to guard the area, reportedly threatened to harm the victim with a cutlass.

She reportedly yielded and followed him into an uncompleted building where the act took place.
After having carnal knowledge of the 24-year-old, Ochuko was said to have pleaded with her to marry him, and exchanged phone numbers with her that night.

After being freed, the victim approached some policemen she saw at a junction and narrated her ordeal to them.

The policemen were said to have plotted with Tivere to call Ochukwo  to see her off to the park where she would board a bus back to Sapele.

The unsuspecting Ochukwo was said to have come out to see off his ‘lover’, only to be arrested by the police.

He was arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State on two counts of rape.

The charge reads, “That you, Kelly Ochuko, on February 3, 2014 at about 2am, on 5, Mutiatu Street, Ikotun Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did forcefully have sexual intercourse with one Tivere, aged 24 years without her consent….”

“That you did threaten one Tivere with a cutlass while trying to have forceful carnal knowledge of her without her consent….”

The police prosecutor, Corporal Cyriacus Osuji, said the offence was punishable under sections 258(1), 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

Ochuko pleaded not guilty to the charge and elected summary trial.

The magistrate, Ms Y.B Badejo-Okusanya, admitted him to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

“The sureties must be resident in Lagos, gainfully employed and must present two years tax clearance. The addresses and means of livelihood of the sureties must also be verified,” she added.
The matter was adjourned till March 4, 2014.


Man, 35, held in prison over alleged rape

An Osogbo Magistrate’s Court on Monday ordered Faheem Onalore, 35, to be remanded in Ilesa Prison for allegedly committing rape.

The Magistrate, Mrs Halima Bashiru, said the order was due to the gravity of the offence.

The prosecutor, Mireti Wilson, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Feb. 14, at about 9.30p.m., at Iwo area.

Wilson said that the accused had an unlawful carnal knowledge of a 13 year old girl without her consent.

He said the offence contravened Sections 31 (1) and (2) of the Criminal Code of Osun, 2003.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge when read to him.

The counsel to the accused, Mrs Nnenna Ugwu, prayed the court to grant her client bail in most liberal terms.

The magistrate said a formal application for bail should be filed by the defense counsel in the next date of hearing.

The magistrate adjourned the case to March 5 for hearing.

Source

Orphanage rape: Protest stalls relocation ceremony


The protesters.


A dedication and thanksgiving ceremony for the relocation of the Light of Hope Orphanage, Ogun State, was hastily cancelled on Saturday after protesters stormed the place.

Two underage inmates of the orphanage had accused its Director, Mr. Olatayo Atunde, of sexually abusing them in 2013. He was subsequently arrested and arraigned before an Ota Magistrate Court, Ogun State, on four counts.

Presently, Atunde is said to be on bail after a brief stay at the Oba Prison in the Abeokuta area of the state.

The Ogun State government had also barred Atunde from returning to the orphanage, which was located at the Akute area.

The running of the shelter subsequently fell on the wife, who later accepted the victims back to the orphanage after the state government took them from the custody of a non-governmental organisation – Project Alert on Violence Against Women.

However, it was learnt that Atunde relocated the facility from Akute to Lambe and was set to re-assume the directorship of the establishment.

A few weeks ago, some corporate organisations and other sponsors of the orphanage allegedly received a text message inviting them to a dedication ceremony of the new location of the orphanage in Ifesowapo Street.

The text message read in part, “Beloved, come rejoice with us as we celebrate God’s faithfulness in thanksgiving and dedication of the new place God appointed us on February 22, 2014 at 11am.”

But the ceremony was aborted after some non-governmental organisations organised a protest march to the new abode.

Atunde was said to have got wind of the protest and hurriedly cancelled the ceremony.

It was learnt that an attempt by a senior official of the state government to plead with the organisers of the protest to abandon it was  also rejected.

When PUNCH Metro visited the new address, it was deserted. Some buildings within the compound were still under construction. On a bench under a tree, was a big cake still under wraps.
A man, who described himself as Atude family friend, Pastor Adebayo, said he was not aware of any dedication ceremony.

But an invited guest, identified simply as Mrs. Olagbemi, told PUNCH Metro that she received a text message on the ceremony.

She said, “I first went to the old address at Tunde Sebanjo Street and I was told that they moved here. I am not even aware that Atunde has any case in court concerning child abuse. I have made donations to the orphanage.”

However, outside the orphanage, members of many human rights bodies, including Project Alert, Women Arise, Media Concern and Freedom for Abused Children protested the relocation of the orphanage.

Executive Director of Project Alert, Mrs. Josephine Effuah-Chukuwma, said, “It is only in Nigeria that an orphanage that is being investigated for an alleged crime will be left to operate. I don’t know why the Ogun State Government is encouraging impunity. Residents must be aware that a child sexual abuse centre has been opened in their community.”

Executive Director, Women Arise, Mrs. Joe Odumakin, demanded the immediate closure of the orphanage and called on the Ogun State House of Assembly to look into the issue.

She said, “There is no reason for the orphanage to relocate; it is the one who sins that runs away.”

CDA Chairman, Ifesowapo Central, Mr. Folarin Fambegbe, said, “I am aware that this place was bought a few weeks ago. I am also aware that it is an orphanage that would be moving here. However, I have no idea that the owner was in court concerning the sexual abuse of some minors in the orphanage. We as a community would not support any criminal act.”

When contacted, Atunde’s wife, who spoke on behalf of her husband, denied that any ceremony was planned.

She said, “Yes, we have a new location, which we plan to move to very soon, but we have not moved yet. We only sent text messages to people to notify them that we had relocated to a new place.
“There was nothing like any dedication ceremony. We had only planned a prayer meeting. Did you see any guests there or chairs? There was no music. I am aware there was a protest against the orphanage, but we will still hold the prayer meeting after the protest.”

Saturday 22 February 2014

Protest at Ogun State Orphanage Over Pastor's Rape Allegations

Civil Society activists disrupted the opening address of a new orphanage home, Light Of Hope, in Ogun State today.

They claim the Pastor who runs the orphanage, Mr. Olutayo Atunde, is facing rape allegations, and he is without a license to operate.

At the opening, protestors confronted the Pastor's daughter, Ms. Hannah Atunde, whom first denied knowledge of the orphanage but when recognized as its administrator, was silent according to a witness.

Another source said when Pastor Atunde arrived in his car, he hid in the rear seat, and invited guests seeing the protestors left.

A source said protesters warned parents and guardians to keep their children and wards away from the site, and they've called on the Federal and State Government to close up the orphanage and take care of the children until the case against Pastor Atunde is concluded.

The new orphanage is located at 4/6, Ifesowapo Street, Akute-Ijoke Road, Ogun State.
According to previous reports, Pastor Atunde’s orphanage had been operating since 1996, but only approached the Ogun State Government in 2012 for registration.

The orphanage was denied registration by the State on the ground that it was not needed.
Allegations by two teenage girls from his orphanage that Atunde had repeatedly raped them over several years, led to his arrest by police in April 2013.

A medical report by a doctor, Mr. Somoye at the LASUTH, who examined the teenagers, confirmed their hymens were broken and they had contracted pelvic infections through forceful penetration.
Following the arrest, the girls were handed over to an NGO - Project Alert on Violence Against Women, but eventually returned the orphanage.

The Ogun State Government said the victims had requested to be returned.
Atunde was arraigned at the Ota magistrate court on four counts, and remanded in Ibara, Abeokuta prison, and the case adjourned until May 30, 2013 and he released on bail.

At the protest today a source told Saharareporters at the former site of the orphanage Pastor Atunde also sexually assaulted grown-up women taking their babies into the orphanage, and is also said to have slept with their young daughters as they grow up.

Another source said Pastor Atunde has powerful connections in the Ogun State Government, a reason protesters said he may have secured his freedom and absented himself from the court in his case.
The Ogun State Government, a source said, didn't interfere with the Pastor's plans to relocate the orphanage.

Source

Kwara Police Arrest Students For Rape

The Kwara State police command has arrested three of six students of the state College of Health and Technology, Offa who allegedly raped their female colleague.

The state commissioner of Police, Ambrose Aisabo, told newsmen in Ilorin that the victim was drugged by the six suspects before they raped her.

He said that the suspects raped the victim “mercilessly until she became unconscious.”
The Police boss said that the victim had been admitted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) for treatment.

He assured that the remaining three suspects who are at large would be apprehended and brought to book alongside their arrested colleagues.

Aisabo disclosed that items recovered at the scene of the incident include three used condoms, a bottle of pourche liquor, one red lady’s pant, a pair of lady’s shoes and one handset belonging to the victim.

The police boss also disclosed the arrest of some suspected student cult members over cult activities at the state polytechnic in Ilorin.

He said two of the suspects were arrested at the institution during a clash between Eiye and Alora, two rival secret cults, while another one was arrested at the institution when he and other members of his cult were about to carry out a reprisal attack against members of the Alora/Buccaneer cult.

He added that another one, of Eiye confraternity, was arrested while he and his five colleagues who at large at present were trying to coerce an innocent student for the purpose of initiating him to their cult.

The police boss said that the command recovered in Ilorin a Toyota Camry car with registration number LND 857 AR snatched in Ibadan by an armed robbery gang and arrested a member of the gang.

LeadershipNGA

Friday 21 February 2014

FRSC dismisses officer who raped colleague’s 9-yr-old daughter

AKURE — THE authoritiesof the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, yesterday said a 31-year- old officer of the agency, Emmanuel Ilori, who defiled his
colleague’s  nine-year-old daughter (names withheld)  has been dismissed. Its Head of Operations in Ondo State, Sunday Ajayi, said the action of the officer was an embarrassment that should not be treated with
levity.

According to Ondo police image maker, Wole Ogodo, Ilori, now in police
detention, will be charged to court any moment from now.

How it happened
The suspect was said to have visited his co worker in his residence
located at Omitogun Estate Shebi, area of Akure metropolis where he
committed the crime.

Vanguard gathered that Ilori visited Oguntayo Oluwafemi on the said
day and after discussing some personal issues, the father of the victim decided to excuse himself to buy something in the neighbourhood
with which to entertain his guest.

However, immediately Oguntayo left the house, the suspect bolted the
door and pounced on the innocent daughter.

Luck, however, ran out on him as the father of the victim discovered
that he had no money on him and decided to rush back to the house. But
he met his door firmly locked from behind.

He reportedly knocked severally and all he could hear from the room
was the screaming by his daughter.

Oguntayo forced the door open only to meet his colleague defiling his
daughter following which he raised an alarm.

Attempt by the suspect to escape was thwarted  as neighbours arrested
and took him to the Okuta Elerinla police station.

Contacted, Ogodo said the suspect and the father of the victim were
employees of the FRSC in the state.

Ogodo said the father of the victim caught his friend in the act while
he was defiling his daughter whom he left in the house with him.

According to the police spokesman, the father of the victim had to
break open the door of the house he left not more than five minutes
before.

Source

Tackling rape epidemic in Nigeria

NIGERIA is a country under the grip of rape. Hardly a day goes by without screaming headlines of bizarre cases of rape leaping out at embarrassed newspaper readers. It is either a law enforcement officer is taking advantage of a female suspect or a teacher his student, or a guardian, a father or some other intimate family members are violating their innocent wards, daughters, sisters or nieces.

This tidal wave of rape and other forms of sexual assault are doubtlessly a shameless advertisement of the extent of moral decadence and permissiveness in the society. Indeed, ours is a country in dire need of a higher level of morality and a timely intervention of the redemptive power of relevant state agencies. More than ever before, the innocent victims of rape are in need of protection from the reach of these marauding wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Even though Lagos State was credited with a figure of 132 rape cases for last year, it may just be a tip of the iceberg, given the utmost secrecy with which cases of rape and other incidents that have to do with sexual abuse are treated. Dean G Kilpatrick of the National Violence Against Women Prevention Centre, Medical University of Carolina, says rape is the most underreported crime in the United States. Even though there is a gradual change in attitude, many Nigerians are still very reluctant to fight rape cases to a logical end. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Umar Manko, recently explained that the figure of 132 represents a marginal increase over the 129 rape cases recorded in the state in 2012.

In Edo State, authorities of the Central Hospital, Benin City, reported that 80 cases of rape were brought for treatment between March and mid-October last year. The situation can only be imagined if figures from other hospitals in the state are brought to light. Child Protection Network, a non-profit organisation, revealed last year that 95 child rape cases were reported in five northern states of the country, with Gombe alone accounting for 50. Some of them were cases involving a policeman and a lecturer. Another organisation, The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, claimed in a News Agency of Nigeria report of May last year that 1,200 girls were raped in Rivers State alone. Michael Gbarale, the Project Officer of the organisation, said most of the cases involved gang-raping. He said 800 victims were treated in hospitals.

Notable individual accounts that were recorded in the past year included that of a police corporal, Anthony Onoja, who was ordered by a court, alongside the Inspector-General of Police, to pay N10 million “exemplary damages” to a two-year-old rape victim in Nasarawa State. Fortunately, she was adequately recompensed, but hers happens to be one of the few cases in which there had been attempts to ensure the culprits paid for their crime. In other instances, however, the victims have had to either live or die with the infamy of having been raped or violated.

Janet, an 18-year-old woman, could not bear the shame of being gang-raped at gunpoint in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and committed suicide. And for another victim, a nine-year-old pupil, it was also a case of succumbing to death as she could not survive what doctors described as “complications due to forced sexual intercourse.” The late pupil of Fulfilled Greenland School, Ikorodu, Lagos, was a victim of a 14-year-old student rapist.

Regrettably, the police who should help bring this randy teenager to justice have been the ones perverting the course of justice. When Simeon Jogo, the 77-year-old father of the dead girl, went to the police station to make a report, he said he was denied the chance to write a statement. Rather, he was required to leave his telephone number behind so that he could be invited once the culprit had been apprehended. In the meantime, the teenage rapist had relocated from Lagos to Delta State, perhaps far beyond the reach of the law.

Although often defined as a man having a carnal knowledge of a woman without her consent, rape, to the psychologist, is beyond a sexual crime; it is a crime of violence because it always involves force or the threat of force. It is also a crime capable of leaving the victim traumatised for life. Aside from finding it difficult to forge future relationship with the opposite sex, some victims have to contend with unwanted pregnancies.

Sadly, it is not only strangers that commit rape. Experts say that most rape cases are actually committed by people known and close to the victims. And since most cases often go unreported, the rapists are emboldened to continue with their deviant behaviour. This is why cases of sexual molestation and defilement should always be reported to the police.

The law enforcement agents will be of great help in reducing the incidence of rape if they can be less antagonistic towards victims. They should be very hard on rapists to serve as a deterrent. Not only should the search for justice be taken seriously, victims should also be provided adequate medical and counselling services by professionals.

It is also important for women to avoid placing themselves in a vulnerable position. These include walking alone at night and taking a ride in strangers’ cars. Even at home among family members, there should be precautionary steps to avoid rape.

Source

Police Arrest 6 Students For Alleged Rape, Cultism

Three students of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa were on Friday paraded by the State Police Command for alleged rape.

The command also paraded three other students of the State Polytechnic, Ilorin, for allegedly being members of a cult in the institution.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ambrose Aisabor, told journalists at the occasion that six students of the college allegedly raped a female student to a point of coma.

He said the crime was committed on Feb. 15, at about 7.30 p.m.

He said that three of the students escaped, while Olorunshola Temidayo, 22, Akeredolu Femi, 29 and Aluko Opeyemi, 23, were apprehended.

The commissioner said that used condoms, a bottle of liquor, a lady’s red pant; pair of lady’s shoe and Samsung phone belonging to the victim, were recovered from the scene.

Aisabor gave the names of the alleged cult members as Okedoyin Jide, 34, Sabit Durosimi, 18 and Ajisafe Oluwafemi 22.

He said that they were arrested at Kwara State Polytechnic during a clash between Eiye and Alora cult members.

The commissioner said that one locally made pistol, one expended cartridge and three cutlasses were recovered from them when they were apprehended on Feb. 12.

He said that one Akeem Jimoh, 25, was arrested on Feb. 17 in the polytechnic when he and others were planning to carry out a reprisal attack on another cult.

He said that following a tip off on Feb. 19, police stormed the residence of one Olusajo Adetayo, who was said to be keeping arms for one of the cult factions.

He said that two locally made pistols, one live cartridge, three sharpened cutlasses, charms, one beret cap, six Eiye Secret Cult Regalia and contact list of their members were recovered.

Aisabor vowed to fish out the suspect who escaped, warning criminals to steer away from the state.
(NAN)

Gang rape: Police arrest three suspects in Kwara

The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Mr. Ambrose Aisabo, said on Friday that the command has arrested three out of the six students of the state College of Health and Technology in Offa town who allegedly raped their female colleague in the institution.

The CP during a media briefing in Ilorin said the victim was allegedly drugged by the  suspects (names withheld) before they allegedly raped her.

According to the police  boss, the suspects allegedly raped the female student ‘mercilessly until she became unconscious.’ He stated that the female student was being treated at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. He  added that the remaining three suspects would be apprehended and the six suspects prosecuted. Aisabo also said the command had arrested three suspects (names withheld) for cultism.

Thursday 20 February 2014

Three teenagers arraigned for attempted rape

The police on Thursday arraigned three teenagers before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly attempting to rape a 17-year-old girl.

The accused, Opeyemi Sabitu, (17), Kudus Balogun, (15), and Moshood Tajudeen, (14), residents of Ajangbadi area of Ojo,Lagos are facing a four-count charge of attempted rape, stealing, assault and conspiracy.

The Prosecutor, ASP Soji Ojaokomo, said the accused forcefully held their victim and dragged her to an isolated area in an attempt to rape her.

“The accused punched the under-aged girl in their attempt to rape her, but she was rescued by passers-by who were waiting to board vehicle.

“The accused assaulted their victim by holding her mouth and pushing her to the ground in an attempt to rape her,’’ he told the court.

Ojaokomo also alleged that the accused stole N100 from their victim while molesting her.

“The distress alarm that was raised by the victim attracted passers-by and people around who arrested the accused and handed them over to the police.’’

The prosecutor said the offence was committed on Jan. 26 at 5.00 a.m. at Y.S Bus Stop, Ajangbadi, Ojo, a Lagos suburb.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 170, 135, 285 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, granted each of the accused bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety each in like sum.

She said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail condition.

The case was adjourned to March 26 for mention.

Source

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Ex-banker hangs self after allegedly killing wife

IBADAN — Probably for fear of being held responsible for the death of his wife, a 40‑year-old man, Anthony Bankole, who was an ex‑staff of a commercial bank, yesterday, hanged himself in his uncompleted building at Olodo area, Kumapayi, Ibadan.

Vanguard gathered that the man had fought his wife, Kemi, who died later in the hospital last Saturday before he chose to take his life.

According to a source, the man, who resided at Abayomi Road had deceived a neighbour that he was going to withdraw some money from the bank through his Automated Teller Machine, ATM, when he decided to hang himself.

The source said it was too late for anybody to prevent him from dying  as the deceased sent a text message that he was going to kill himself after he left the house.

The source said: “I did not have any premonition of his death because his wife died on Saturday. When he told me he was going out, I even gave him some money as transport fare and told him not to stay out long.

“The deceased lost his wife last Saturday and arrangements were being made for the burial as her remains were still in the mortuary.”

It was gathered that Mrs. Bankole had a business centre at the University College Hospital, UCH.

The source said the wife did not die on the spot as she was rushed to the UCH but died some minutes after and the remains taken to Yemetu mortuary.

According to the neighbour, “we heard him shouting for help around 2 am on Saturday and with the help of another neighbour, she was rushed to the hospital. By that time she was already foaming in the mouth.”

Source

NHRC, Maku, IGP seek stiffer laws against rape

The National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday expressed concern over Nigeria’s laws with regards to violence against women and children saying they were indirectly encouraging rape of children in the country.

The Chairman of NHRC, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, stated this in Abuja during a one-day policy dialogue with the theme: “Gender based Violence affecting Young People in Nigeria”, organized by a civil rights organization, Women Arise for Change Initiative, led by Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin.

While the law specified life imprisonment for rape of women, the law, he noted, only specified 14 or seven years imprisonment for rape of a child.

Odinkalu stated that rape is rape irrespective of age of the victim, but faulted the rape of children, which is termed as ‘defilement’.

He said, “It is important that we address the law reforms. It is important to recognise the parity of the crime of rape. Why is it that the rape of children is easier than the rape of adults? It is because our laws create incentives to rape children. If you rape a child, it is not rape, it is defilement.

“Our laws are outdated on the question of violence. From the clip, you saw people forcing objects into a woman’s genital and our law does not recognise that as rape. Something is wrong because we defined rape as penetration of a woman’s genital with the male genital.”

According to him, it is only Lagos state government for now which recognises rape for what it is, adding, “the penetration of somebody’s genital with any instrument irrespective of whether it is male genital or not.”

“A lot of these happen in the family, the violence against young people, sexual violence and violence against women is the violence of people who we are supposed to love, care for and give everything. And in most cases, we tolerate it because we say it is in the family and we should allow it to go for the sake of peace. That is the peace of the graveyard and it is a peace we must resist,” Odinkalu said.

He suggested that steps should also be taken to address the criminal justice system in the country.

The NHRC boss pushed for special training of people to handle violence against women, which he said should not only be seen as criminal justice issue, but also as a social issue, medical issue and adaptation issue.

He said, “Since Mariam Babangida, I think we have been irresponsible with the way we managed the office or situation of the First Ladies. It is important to recognise that First Ladies have responsibilities and it is good to see First Ladies discharge those responsibilities.”

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, noted that social violence is not only about Nigeria but a global phenomenon..

“No society is free of certain injustices, but we need to work on our society to deal with these issues. Government alone cannot do everything,” he said.

The Force PRO, Frank Mba, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, noted that domestic violence has gone beyond the normal definition of crime.

He said that the Police Force has drawn a line between what is called a family affair in violence against women and domestic crime.

To this end, he said that officers have been directed not to treat domestic crime as family affairs.

“Our challenges in the past included lack of forensic evidence. But we have how developed new investigative models and created new units to handle these gender issues.” He said

While stating that gender based violence is on the rise in the country, Odumakin, said the aim of the dialogue was to identify the existing gaps and help to build consensus towards eradication of violence against women and children in the country.

Source

‘Let’s fight rape’

Worried by the high number of alleged rapists awaiting trial in courts, the Katsina State Government on Monday urged stakeholders to join hands in fighting the menace.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Ibrahim Dantsoho, made this known when he briefed newsmen in Katsina.

Dantsoho said that the increasing cases of rape had become a source of concern to parents, government and other stakeholders.

According to him, in Katsina Local Government alone, there are 21 rape cases awaiting trial from January to date.

“It is unfortunate to note that out of every 10 cases brought to our courts,  five are on rape, and in most cases, the victims are small girls,’’ he said.

The commissioner said such illegal acts prompted the state government to amend Section 283 of the Penal Code cap 96 of 1991.

Source

Monday 17 February 2014

Police in Anambra arrest church security for alleged rape

The Police in Anambra on yesterday said a security guard attached to a church at Nkpor, near Onitsha, suspected to have raped a 14-year-old girl, has been arrested.

rape-toonThe Police Public Relations Officer in the command, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, told newsmen that the suspect and two others, now at large, allegedly committed the offence in a church compound in the community.

According to him, the three suspects threatened the girl with a machete before raping her.

“We have launched full search for other culprits and commenced investigation into the case, and when we conclude, the suspects will be arraigned,” he said.

The father of the girl, Mr Nzeyi Nwolisa, said the girl had been taken to hospital for treatment.

He appealed to the police to speed up investigation so as to apprehend the remaining suspects and charge them to court. (NAN)

Source
The Police in Anambra on yesterday said a security guard attached to a church at Nkpor, near Onitsha, suspected to have raped a 14-year-old girl, has been arrested.
rape-toonThe Police Public Relations Officer in the command, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, told newsmen that the suspect and two others, now at large, allegedly committed the offence in a church compound in the community.
According to him, the three suspects threatened the girl with a machete before raping her.
“We have launched full search for other culprits and commenced investigation into the case, and when we conclude, the suspects will be arraigned,” he said.
The father of the girl, Mr Nzeyi Nwolisa, said the girl had been taken to hospital for treatment.
He appealed to the police to speed up investigation so as to apprehend the remaining suspects and charge them to court. (NAN)
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/police-anambra-arrest-church-security-alleged-rape/#sthash.OiTqR7tD.dpuf

Saturday 15 February 2014

Court remands applicant over gang rape

An Upper Area Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday remanded an applicant, Emmanuel Agbo, in police custody for alleged gang rape.

The presiding judge, Mr. Vincent Gwahemba, gave the order after police prosecutor, Joseph Ahua, urged the court not to grant bail to the accused because investigation was still ongoing.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Gwahemba adjourned the case till February 26, 2014 to enable the police to conclude investigations.

Earlier, Ahua told the court that the accused and three others, now at large, conspired and deceived the complainant.

Ahua said that they picked her up in a vehicle with an unknown registration number, after luring her through the social media.

He said the accused person and his accomplices, gang-raped the woman.

Ahua alleged that they took her to Aso `B’ Mararaba, where they threatened her, stole her two Blackberry phones, and N8, 000.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened sections 97, 397, 292, 244 and 283 of the Penal Code, which attracts 28 years imprisonment on conviction.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

SOURCE

Man rapes minor, gives her N10

For raping a minor, a Kano State High Court has sentenced 42-year-old Auwal Idris to 10 years imprisonment.

State counsel, Zainab Mudi, said the convict gave the minor N10 after luring and forcefully having canal knowledge of her.

Justice Tani Hassan, who delivered judgement in the case, held that sufficient evidence had been provided against the accused.

The judge said, “But for the pleadings of defence counsel, life sentence would have been passed on you.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the sentence was without an option of fine.

Hassan ordered the convict to pay the sum of N100, 000 compensation to the victim, warning that failure to pay the compensation would attract additional two years imprisonment.

The judge said in view of the evidence presented by witnesses, the court had no option than to sentence Idris.

Hassan, therefore, sentenced Idris to 10 years imprisonment, starting from the time he was held in prison in 2011.

Mudi told the court how Idris lured the minor to a secluded spot on February 25, 2011 and forcibly had canal knowledge of her.

“The victim said that Idris gave her N10 after having canal knowledge of her. The victim said that Idris accosted her when she was coming back from a wedding ceremony on the said date,’’ Mudi told the court.

The defence counsel, Hasiya Imam, had prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy because his client was a first time offender and had shown remorse.

Source

I’m glad he had accident after raping me –12-year-old rape victim

In the emergency ward of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, 21-year-old Oye Adeleke was lying on a bed like every other patient who had suffered different degrees of fracture to their limbs from accidents.

But Adeleke’s case is peculiar. In fact, the story behind how he landed in the hospital had circulated around the ward. Some of those who were discussing the issue when our correspondent visited him, used the word “karma” to describe his fate.

On January 18, 2014, Adeleke, who is an apprentice meat seller at Tinubu Market in Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, allegedly added his name to a long list of sexual predators walking the streets of Lagos.

That day, which would change the life of 12-year-old Bisola (not real name) forever, was when Adeleke ambushed the young girl and raped her for one hour.

When our correspondent visited the ailing girl at her parent’s home in Gowon Estate, Ipaja area of Lagos, she gave a sordid detail of her ordeal at the hands of Adeleke, which later landed her in the surgical ward of the Igando General Hospital.

Adeleke was eventually arrested but in his attempt to escape from the police custody, he was hit by a moving vehicle when he ran across the road.

Adeleke’s boss supplies meat to Bisola’s mother, a food vendor. It was learnt that the suspect had on occasions delivered meat to the girl’s mother.

Bisola, a shy girl, who looked at her toes as she spoke, said, “I followed a friend to buy sugar in the market (she sells sugar to assist her family) and when I was coming, he (Adeleke) told me to follow him to their shop to collect meat for my mother. I followed him but I did not enter the shop.

“There was nobody else around. It was after 7pm. He told me to enter but I said he should bring out the meat. He then said I should take the meat from the freezer. As I attempted to open the freezer, he grabbed me and tied a cloth over my face and mouth.

“He held me down and pulled off my pants. He did not leave me until around 8.30pm. I could not shout. The place was dark.”

The girl paused, her eyes moist with tears as she narrated the story. “I am happy a vehicle hit him,” she said.

Each word spoken by Bisola seemed to come out with tremendous pain. It was clear the girl would rather not remember the detail of the experience her young body and mind had been put through.

Bisola was raped for an hour by her estimation.  She said she remembered the time Adeleke finally released her because she had to look at the clock on the wall of the shop because she knew her mother would have been looking for her.

The young girl rushed out of her captor’s embrace bleeding and bruised.  But shame and confusion would not allow her to go straight to her mother.

Her mother told Saturday PUNCH that she had expected her to return but when she did not, she retired to bed, thinking that her daughter must have stayed late in her friend’s house.

“I heard her enter the house later. But around 3am, she started to sob loudly,” she said.

Both mother and daughter live in a small decrepit wooden shack around Gowon Estate.

When the woman went to check on her daughter, she noticed her underwear was soaked in blood. which had started running down her legs.

She was about to scream but quickly changed her mind because she was afraid of alerting her husband, Bisola’s step-father, to what had happened.

“But by morning, I could not hide it anymore. She told me the person responsible for it and around 5am, we went to report at the Gowon Estate Police Division, Ipaja. The man was later arrested,” the woman said.

Bisola was taken to the hospital and a doctor who examined her immediately recommended surgery to repair her damaged private part. After the surgery, she was on admission for two days.

The doctor’s report obtained by our correspondent indicated that she was brought to the hospital “bleeding profusely from second degree laceration in her private part and broken hymen.”

But a day after the young man was arrested, he was released by the police.

Director of the Esther Child Rights Foundation, Mrs. Esther Ogwu, said she intervened in the matter when the victim’s step brother reported the incident to her.

She told Saturday PUNCH, “It was really absurd that he would be released that way. I could not believe that in the face of the increasing child abuse and molestation being reported every day, the police could still release a suspect without promptly charging him to court.

“The girl was raped on a Saturday; by Monday, the man was arrested. But by Wednesday, the family said they went to the police station and were informed by the investigating police officer that he had been released.

“I informed the Lagos Public Advice Centre of the development and officials of the centre contacted the police division. The IPO was forced to rearrest the boy. I just wonder if the police have heard of the Child Rights Act.”

One of the reasons for enacting the Child Rights Act in 2003 is to stem the tide of child abuse and molestation in Nigeria and reinforce the legal provision against it.

Adeleke was rearrested and locked up preparatory to his transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

But the suspect had a different idea. He decided to escape. As soon as the IPO turned her back, Adeleke ran out of the station and was about to cross the road when he was hit by a commercial bus.

Of course, the bus did not stop, as he would later tell our correspondent in the hospital.

An OP Mesa military team, who saw him injured on the road took him to the hospital.

Asked why he decided to escape, he said, “I was just afraid. I did not know that it would become such a serious matter.”

But when he was asked why he raped the girl when he could have paid to sleep with a commercial sex worker, he said he did not rape her.

“I did not rape her sir. She is my girlfriend. We have been dating since early last year. She always called me ‘okobo’ (a Yoruba word for eunuch),” he said.

Bisola’s mother would later refute this claim as a concocted story because she only moved to Ipaja with her daughter in August 2013.

Adeleke disputed that Bisola is just 12 years old which makes her a minor.

He said Bisola had told him that she was 18 years old. But when our correspondent met the girl, there was nothing to indicate that a man could be fooled into thinking she could even be up to 15 years old.

The suspect said, “That day, I went to buy fuel and she followed me. When I returned home, I told her to leave but she would not. She was tickling me and calling me okobo.

“I told her to leave and I saw her off but she came back and started tickling me again. I then decided to do it. But when I pulled off her underwear and realised she was still a virgin, I decided to leave her but she started taunting me again. Then I did it. I did not know that she would bleed like that and that it would become a police matter.”

When asked why she blindfolded and muffled the girl’s mouth with a piece of cloth, Adeleke denied doing that.

The young man, who said he was an indigene of Abeokuta, only finished primary school.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that since Adeleke got to the hospital, his relations had not come to pay for his treatment. The hospital is planning to discharge him prematurely. It was learnt that his treatment had been stopped.

But there is fear that Adeleke might escape if discharged as the IPO had only visited the suspect once.

Adeleke said his mother was late but added that his brother and boss were looking for money to offset his medical bills.

Meanwhile, Bisola’s mother and step-father have changed course on the case.

When our correspondent visited them on Sunday, the step-father, who did not hide his anger, said he had no money to prosecute the suspect.

“They should release him. I don’t have any money to move around to prosecute anybody. We have spent enough money already. Nobody should come and disturb me again,” he said.

Bisola’s step-father, who did not seem to be literate, was told that prosecuting Adeleke was not his job but that of the police and that he did not have to spend money.

“What about moving here and there when the police call us or when we need to go to court? The man himself is poor. It is not worth it,” he said.

Bisola’s mother, who seemed helpless in the face of her husband’s attitude, also concurred.

“We spent money on her treatment; we have even incurred debt. We will leave the matter to God,” she said.

Child sexual abuse in Nigeria is on the rise but there seems to be no dedication on the part of the police to ensure proper prosecution.

The IPO in this case, a policewoman named Patricia, promptly directed our correspondent to her boss, the divisional police officer, when contacted on the case.

When our correspondent contacted the Divisional Police Officer of Gowon Estate, Mr. Segun Titiladunayo, he said he had not got any report that the hospital was preparing to discharge the suspect.

“I am very grateful for this information. He might escape if he is discharged without our knowledge. I will draft my men there right now to ensure that he is not given the opportunity to escape,” he said.

Ogwu said it was unfortunate that the financial status of the families of victims prevents such victims from getting necessary care.

“For instance, in this case, the doctor’s report indicates that the girl should be brought back for HIV screening and Hepatitis B screening, but you can be sure that is not going to happen if we leave the matter in the hands of the parents. This is why we decided to get the government involved,” she said.

She had written a formal letter to the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to take over the girl’s case.

Source

Thursday 13 February 2014

Rape: Victim Narrates Ordeal In Court

A 16-year-old rape victim on Tuesday told an Abuja High Court that the accused poured anointing oil on her and raped her in the name of removing evil spirits inside her.

She told Justice Hussieni Baba-Yusuf that Basil Princewill of Mountain Mover Fire Ministry Church, Nyanya, in 2012 told her he had a revelation that her foundation was dirty.

The victim told the court that Princewill said that her father’s wife was trying to kill her and that the Lord told him to perform a quick deliverance on her.

“I agreed for the deliverance to be carried out on me. During the deliverance, he carried a white handkerchief and a bottle of oil and asked me to remove my clothes.
“He also asked me if I was menstruating and I told him no.

“He told me that I am possessed with many evil spirits that have stained my blood and it will only take my husband to deliver me and I was not married, he said that he will carry out the cleansing on me,’’ she said.

The victim testified that the accused led her into his bedroom and asked her to close her eyes, brought his handkerchief and placed it over her head and she became very weak.
She said the accused raped her.

“I cried and begged him to stop but he refused. All I remember is that I fainted and woke up later to see that I was bleeding from my private parts.

“When he was done, he helped me to wear my clothes and he called Pastor Moses Onuoha and asked him to take me outside and burn the handkerchief,’’ she said.

She said that the accused also told her that the “deliverance’’ will need to be take place again after a while to complete the cleansing of her blood.

“Sometime in December 2012, he sent for me against and told me that the spirits were stubborn and he lured me with alcohol and asked me to go home.

“After that I discovered that I was pregnant, he took me to Fantanu Head Medical Centre, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, for an abortion.

“The doctor, took me to a room inside his office and brought out instruments and asked his nurses to prepare me for an evacuation.

“I saw the instruments and I ran out of the hospital (papa) Apostle ran after me and beat me up, saying I want to bring shame to him,’’ she told testified.

She further said that the accused dragged her into the hospital and left a directive that she should not leave the hospital until he comes for her.

The victim told the court that she was kept inside a room after the evacuation and was not allowed to leave the hospital as instructed by the accused.

She said that her mum later took her to a family doctor, who diagnosed that she had a recent abortion.
Baba-Yusuf adjourned the case to Feb. 20, for cross-examination. (NAN)

Woman Gang-raped By Social Network Friends

One Miss Elizabeth John Adie, has given oral evidence about how she was gang-raped by a group of men she met through a social networking site, 2GO.

The case was mentioned at the Upper Area Court, Mararaba Gurku, Nasarawa State, yesterday.
One of the accused, 22-year-old Agbo Emmanuel, a school certificate holder has been in police detention since the incident occurred but was brought to court on February 11, charged with criminal conspiracy, intimidation, extortion, causing hurt and rape, all contrary to sections 97, 397, 292, 244, and 283 of the Penal Code Laws of Nigeria.

According to the police First Information Report, the victim reported at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, Nasarawa state on February 1, 2014, that on the same day at about 13:30hrs at Aso B, one Agbo Emmanuel and three others, Bright Ochigbon, Junior Udewenga and Anita all of Aso Mararaba, now at large, conspired and deceived her through the 2GO social network.

The victim said the accused picked her in an ash colour vehicle with unknown registration number to Aso B in Mararaba where they threatened her with knives, searched her handbag and took two blackberry phones and cash amount of N8,000 and other foreign currencies.

Adie said after taking the items from her, the three men went ahead to rape her in turns, adding that she had tried to resist but was cut by the knife on her right finger.

Source

Wednesday 12 February 2014

132 rape cases reported in 2013 – Lagos CP


Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Umaru Manko

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Umar Manko, has said no fewer than 132 rape cases were reported to the police  in 2013.
Manko, however, did not give a breakdown of the figure and the people involved.
The Commissioner said this  during a press conference at the state police command headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday while reviewing the performance of the police in the state.
Rape was among the 30 offences highlighted by Manko.
While rape moved from 129 in 2012 to 132 in 2013, murder rose from 106 to 111 for the years under review.
According to the statistics released by the police boss, 15 cases of kidnapping were recorded in 2013, against the 19 reported in 2012.
In other categories, armed robbery dropped from 160 in 2012 to 152 in 2013. It stated that 39 policemen lost their lives in various gun battles with armed robbers.
Manko said the command was working to reduce the incidents of crime in the state through the training of its personnel and the deployment of intelligence gadgets.
He said, “The year 2013 was a year full of challenges for the command. The states’s cosmopolitan nature and its prime position as the economic nerve centre of the nation posed some challenges. Crimes such as kidnapping, cultism and armed robbery, which tried to rear their ugly heads in the state, were given a serious fight.
“Most kidnap cases were resolved as swiftly as they began and victims rescued and reunited with their families, including those perpetrated in other states of the federation.
“However, since the command was poised to rid the state of criminal elements, it had to develop some intelligence-driven combating strategies under the mission statement captioned “zero-tolerance” for crime which embedded strategies at various levels of execution, right from the state headquarters.”
He said over 1,000 Closed-Circuit Television cameras had already been installed in strategic places in the state, while  a committee had been set up to look at more crisis-prone areas where such would be needed.
While fielding questions from journalists on the rate criminals were being released after being taken to court, Manko said the police were working with the state judiciary to ensure that the course of justice was not frustrated.
He said, “If you know the criminal justice system, you will know that everyone has a role to play. Mine is just to prevent. If I send a suspect to court, whatever happens there is no more my responsibility. The police cannot go to the court and determine what is happening there.
“However, myself, the Attorney-General and the Chief Judge are working on strategies to improve the justice system, so that even if somebody will be released, the police will be put on notice and innocent lives will not be at risk.”

Court to hear N330m rape suit April 2

A Federal High Court on Wednesday in Lagos, fixed April 2 for the hearing of a suit filed by an applicant, Ngozi Ugwu, on behalf of her niece, over an alleged rape.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, adjourned the suit to enable the parties regularise their processes before the court.

She also ordered hearing notices to be served on the fourth to sixth respondents.

Ugwu had filed the suit on April 23, 2013, through her Counsel, Mr Olukayode Dada, seeking a declaration that the defilement of her seven-year-old niece, amounted to a breach of her right to dignity of the human person.

Joined as first to third respondents in the suit are Kazeem Mohammed, 40, Tobi Daramola, 19, and James Anieskin, 19.

The fourth to sixth respondents are CSP Lucy Abimbola (Area Crime Officer, Idimu Police Command), one Miss Anthonia, (Prosecutor of Court 6, Ikeja Magistrates’ Court) and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.

The applicant is claiming N100 million each, against the first to third respondents as aggravated and exemplary damages for violating the infant’s right to dignity of her human person and freedom from torture.

She is also claiming N20 million against the first respondent, five million naira against the second respondent and additional five million naira against the third respondent as general damages.

In the originating motion, the applicant averred that the respondents were her neighbours at Greenland Estate, LASU-Isheri Road in Alimosho, Lagos.

Ugwu said that she also resided in the same address with her husband, her two kids and her niece (the infant).

She averred that sometime in January, 2013, she had noticed blood stains on one of the infant’s under pant, adding that after interrogations, the infant confessed that the first to third respondents had been defiling her.

Ugwu added that the infant told her that while she (Ugwu) was away in Abuja during the period, the first to third respondents, paid frequent visits to their home.

At the home, they discovered that her husband had gone to work.

She also averred that the respondents would threaten the infant with a knife, in order to have their way, and would warn her never to reveal the incident to anyone.

“After much interrogations, with my niece, she said that the respondents came to put their “wee-wee” in her “bum-bum” each time my husband was away.

“According to her, they will buy her Five Alive juice and Gala beef roll.

“I immediately reported the incident to the Ikotun Police Station, which swung into action and arrested the third respondent but the first and second respondents, had already absconded.

“To my surprise, while the Ikotun Police Station was still making frantic efforts to arrest the other respondents who were at large, a signal came from the Area ‘M’ Idimu Command, for the case to be transferred there.

“The respondents were later arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, after which the prosecutor, one Miss Anthonia, applied that the infant be remanded at the Girls Correctional Centre, Idi-Araba.

“I was later informed that on their way to the centre, the prosecutor threatened the infant to change her story or be locked up in a room for five days, without seeing her family, she said “.

The applicant, therefore, seeks an order, directing the sixth respondent (commissioner of police), to restrain the fifth respondent (prosecutor), from taking part in the prosecution of the first to third respondents.

She is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the fourth respondent (Idimu Area Crime Officer), from taking part in investigating the first to third respondents.

Source

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Man, 42, bags 10 years imprisonment for rape

A Kano State High Court on Tuesday sentenced Auwal Idris of Gani village to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine for raping a minor.

Justice Tani Hassan held that the sufficient evidence had been provided against the accused.

Hassan ordered the convict to pay the sum of N100, 000 compensation to the victim, holding that failure would attract another two years imprisonment.

The judge said in view of the evidences presented by witnesses the court had no option than to apply the punishment of rape against Idris.

She said, “but for the pleadings of defence counsel, life sentence would have been passed on you.”

Hassan, therefore, sentenced Idris to 10 years imprisonment, starting from the time he was held in prison in 2011.

She added that if the accused default in paying the compensation, it would attract additional two years prison term.

The state counsel, Zainab Mudi, had told the court how Idris lured the minor to a secluded spot on the Feb. 25, 2011 and forcefully had canal knowledge of her without her consent.

“The victim said that Idris gave her N10 after having canal knowledge of her.

“The victim said that Idris accosted her when she was coming back from a wedding ceremony on the said date,” Mudi told the court.

The defence counsel, Hasiya Imam, had prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy because his client was a first time offender and had shown enough remorse.

Source

Man, 27, Docked Over Alleged Rape, Attempted Murder

An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday admitted one Babatunde Ojo, 27, to N500,000 bail, following his arraignment for rape and attempt to kill.

The accused is facing a five-count charge of stealing, assault, rape, attempt to kill and destroying evidence.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Demi-Ajayi, admitted the accused to bail with two sureties in like sum.
The accused was alleged to have raped a 29-year-old woman.

Ojo resides at No. 28, Oshonibare St., Ishawo in Ikorodu near, Lagos.

The Prosecutor, ASP. Etim Nkankuk, told the court that the crime was committed on Jan. 23 at about 8 a.m., at No. 2 Gentemon Close, Okediya, Ikorodu.

He said that the accused was dating the victim’s younger sister.

Nkankuk said that the accused went to the victim’s house to visit his girlfriend who was not at home.
“The accused went to the victim’s house and forcefully had sexual intercourse with the victim.
“While struggling with the victim the accused did cut the victim’s two hands with knife.

“The accused threw the knife and the victim’s night gown and other property he allegedly stole to an unknown destination.

“The accused stole the victim’s Apple Mark book laptop valued at N215,000, hard disk, valued at N15,000 and camera battery, valued N5,000.
“The offences contravened Sections 91, 171, 228, 258 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011,” Nkankuk said.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Section 258 provides that any person who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl without her consent is guilty of the offence of rape and liable to life imprisonment.

Demi-Ajayi adjourned the case to March 31 for trial. (NAN)

Friday 7 February 2014

Beware! Rape of minors on the increase — NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, today, raised alarm over the increasing cases of rape in the country, stressing that most of the recently reported incidents involved the defilement of minors by adults.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof Ben Angwe, who made the observation in Abuja yesterday, accordingly urged the Police High Command to be more vigilant in their investigations with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

Receiving the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, John Kennedy Opara who paid a courtesy visit to the NHRC yesterday, Angwe, said there was the need for religious organizations and the Christian Pilgrims Commission to cooperate with the right body in its quest towards ensuring that perpetrators of such heinous crime are prosecuted and  jailed.

Angwe said: “I wish to condemn in very strong terms the increasing cases of rape in the country especially the defilement of minors. Just last week, it was reported  that  a girl of eight years was allegedly raped to death by unknown persons in Ikot Ekang, Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State.

”I wish to call on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to commence an immediate investigation into the case in question and other related matters to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book”.

While calling on the Akwa-Ibom State office of the NHRC to also commence immediate investigation into the matter, Prof. Angwe, implored parents and guardians to cooperate with the Commission by always feeling free to report rape cases involving their wards, saying some times, parents themselves, scuttle effort by security and law enforcement agents to conduct full scale investigation on such rape cases.

”God used John Kennedy Opara as an instrument of nature; he is a wonderful agent of God. Since his leadership of the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission, Nigerians have never had the usual ugly experience of the past where they are always stranded in the holy land.

“Today Nigeria is going through a very serious crisis due to the killing of humans by their fellow humans. We are committed to removing the absurdity of these killings and we urge the Christian Pilgrims Commission to continue to work on the inner being of human beings to end the incessant killings. We will work tirelessly to ensure that we have peace in this country.”

Source
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, today, raised alarm over the increasing cases of rape in the country, stressing that most of the recently reported incidents involved the defilement of minors by adults.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof Ben Angwe, who made the observation in Abuja yesterday, accordingly urged the Police High Command to be more vigilant in their investigations with a view to bringing the culprits to book.
Receiving the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, John Kennedy Opara who paid a courtesy visit to the NHRC yesterday, Angwe, said there was the need for religious organizations and the Christian Pilgrims Commission to cooperate with the right body in its quest towards ensuring that perpetrators of such heinous crime are prosecuted and  jailed.
Angwe said: “I wish to condemn in very strong terms the increasing cases of rape in the country especially the defilement of minors. Just last week, it was reported  that  a girl of eight years was allegedly raped to death by unknown persons in Ikot Ekang, Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State.
”I wish to call on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to commence an immediate investigation into the case in question and other related matters to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book”.
While calling on the Akwa-Ibom State office of the NHRC to also commence immediate investigation into the matter, Prof. Angwe, implored parents and guardians to cooperate with the Commission by always feeling free to report rape cases involving their wards, saying some times, parents themselves, scuttle effort by security and law enforcement agents to conduct full scale investigation on such rape cases.
”God used John Kennedy Opara as an instrument of nature; he is a wonderful agent of God. Since his leadership of the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission, Nigerians have never had the usual ugly experience of the past where they are always stranded in the holy land.
“Today Nigeria is going through a very serious crisis due to the killing of humans by their fellow humans. We are committed to removing the absurdity of these killings and we urge the Christian Pilgrims Commission to continue to work on the inner being of human beings to end the incessant killings. We will work tirelessly to ensure that we have peace in this country.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/beware-rape-minors-increase-nhrc/#sthash.OO83FFlY.dpuf

Woman raped, slaughtered in Abeokuta

ABEOKUTA – Tragedy struck in Abeokuta on Friday when four young men allegedly gang-raped a- 50 year old Benniose woman and later slaughtered her.

And eye witness told Vanguard that, the suspected rapists reportedly stormed the house of the woman located at Oniyanrin area of the town through the window.

Findings revealed that,the victim, a mother of five,popularly called Mama Friday lived alone in the boys quarters in the main building as her husband,a bricklayer works in Ifo town.

The source who pleaded anonymity narrated that the gang having gained access into the apartment, engaged the victim in a marathon sex,and after satisfying their sexual urge reportedly slaughtered her and fled the scene.

However the neighbours of the victim were said to be unaware while it was happening until when the woman’s lifeless body was found on the bed, with bloodstain and pants at the edge of the bed the following morning.

When our correspondent visited the scene some policemen were seen removing the corpse which was later taken to State Hospital Mortuary,Ijaiye, Abeokuta.

A neighbour ,who identified herself as Mariam Idowu told newsmen that she received the sad information early in the morning of Friday which prompted her to rush to the scene.

According to her, when the woman who was a pap seller did not come out early as her practice, but, when one of her colleagues went to check her in the room her lifeless body was seen

When contacted , the Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer,Muyiwa Adejobi said four persons have so far been arrested.

Adejobi who said, investigation has commenced,added that the woman was slaughtered.

However,as at the time of this reports four suspects have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command and were being interrogated.

Source

Thursday 6 February 2014

Alleged rape: Ogun to seal off private hostel

Abeokuta —Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Segun Odubela, has called a meeting of parents,  whose wards are in a private hostel where its proprietor is presently facing interrogation over the defilement of a 12-year-old girl.

Meantime, the hostel in question, is at the verge of being sealed off by the ministry as parents have been advised to relocate their wards before the building is put under lock and key.

Also, a meeting has been fixed between the commissioner and the victim’s parents in order to relocate her to another school because of stigmatisation.

Confirming the development to Vanguard in a telephone conversation,  Odubela said that the case would be well handled to serve as a deterrent to others, adding ‘’We have visited the hostel and will soon seal it off. We are only waiting for parents of other children to relocate them so that their education will not be threatened. Also, a meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow to map the way forward for the victim.”

It will be recalled that on the fateful day, the suspect, Mr. Akinduro, was said to have lured the victim to his bed, asking her to remove her clothes, an idea that was vehemently refused by the victim until a force was applied and out of fear, the victim ran to a relative at Ikenne to report the mater.

Mr. Akinduro, 60, proprietor of a private hostel at Ita-Oyila village, Ikenne, was said to have allegedly raped the victim a student of May Flower School, Ikenne who was put in his custody and the matter was reported to the Police.

Source
Abeokuta —Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Segun Odubela, has called a meeting of parents,  whose wards are in a private hostel where its proprietor is presently facing interrogation over the defilement of a 12-year-old girl.
Meantime, the hostel in question, is at the verge of being sealed off by the ministry as parents have been advised to relocate their wards before the building is put under lock and key.
Also, a meeting has been fixed between the commissioner and the victim’s parents in order to relocate her to another school because of stigmatisation.
Confirming the development to Vanguard in a telephone conversation,  Odubela said that the case would be well handled to serve as a deterrent to others, adding ‘’We have visited the hostel and will soon seal it off. We are only waiting for parents of other children to relocate them so that their education will not be threatened. Also, a meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow to map the way forward for the victim.”
It will be recalled that on the fateful day, the suspect, Mr. Akinduro, was said to have lured the victim to his bed, asking her to remove her clothes, an idea that was vehemently refused by the victim until a force was applied and out of fear, the victim ran to a relative at Ikenne to report the mater.
Mr. Akinduro, 60, proprietor of a private hostel at Ita-Oyila village, Ikenne, was said to have allegedly raped the victim a student of May Flower School, Ikenne who was put in his custody and the matter was reported to the Police.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/alleged-rape-osun-seal-private-hostel/#sthash.7Rhs4SMQ.dpuf

Four men gang-rape girl while returning from vigil

Four men, Chinye, Sule, Wale and 22-year-old Lawal Kamoru, have been accused of gang-raping a 14-year-old-girl, (name withheld ) while she was returning from a vigil.

The incident was said to have occurred at Oluwanishola street, Ilaje Bariga, Lagos.

While Kamoru has been arrested, the remaining three were said to be at large.  PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim and her sister, who live in the Ifako, Gbagada area of Lagos, had attended a vigil with their mother in Ososa Avenue, Bariga.

After the vigil, their mother was said to have asked them to wait for her at the home of a family friend on Jide Street, Bariga.

On their way there, the sisters were reportedly cornered by the four men who were wielding knives, sticks and bottles.

The quartet was said to have been temporarily distracted from their evil intention when they noticed a group of people approaching. They allegedly freed the girls.
After the group took another direction, the hoodlums reportedly traced the girls and abducted them the second time.

They were said to have seized their bag containing a Bible valued at N750, a head tie valued at N500, a handset valued at N13,500, and N10,000 cash.
The hoodlums allegedly seized the younger of the victims and took the 14-year-old to a corner where they took turns to rape her.

She was said to have sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a general hospital in the area.
The Bariga Police Division was alerted and was able to arrest Kamoru, while the others took to their heels.

He was arraigned on six counts of rape, stealing and assault.
The charges read in part, “That you, Lawal Kamoru, and others at large on February 1, 2014, at Oluwanishola Street, off Seriki Street, Ilaje Bariga, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with one (name withheld), age 14 years.
“That you did threaten the lives of (name withheld), female, age 11 years, (name withheld), age 14 years, with bottles, sticks and knives.”

The police prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, said the offences were punishable under sections 409, 135, 258, 170, 56, 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges and elected summary trial.
His defence counsel asked for his bail in liberal terms.

The magistrate, Mr. Olanrewaju Olatunji, however, denied the defendant bail, saying the case should be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

 The matter was adjourned till March 10, 2014 for legal advice.

g

g

Total Pageviews

Followers

Followers

Footer