NURTW Member Sentenced To Jail For Alleged Rape Of 19 -Year Old Girl

A Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on Monday remanded in prison, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ajao Akinyemi, for allegedly raping a 19 -year old girl.
Akinyemi, 29, was arraigned on a one- count charge of rape before Justice Adeniyi Adebajo, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Akin-Adesomoju told the court that the defendant, a resident of 22, Agoro Street, Lagos Island, committed the offence in June 2011.
She said the defendant had unlawful carnal knowledge of his victim (names withheld), without her consent.
Akinyemi, being a friend of the victim’s brother named Akeem, had proposed to the young girl, but allegedly raped her along the line.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 358 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Lagos, 2003.However, counsel to the defendant, Ms C. Obasi, while applying for Akinyemi’s bail, told the court that he was granted bail at the Magistrate Court during his first arraignment.
She prayed the court to uphold the lower court’s bail.

Although the prosecutor did not object to the bail application, she informed the court that the defendant’s surety who was issued a Bench Warrant was brought before the court from Alausa Police Station, by the liaison officer, Bolaji Samuel.
In his ruling, Adebajo held that the court cannot continue with the magistrate court’s bail.
While remanding the defendant in custody, he ruled that a proper bail application should be made to his court and adjourned the case to December 4.


 The Nation