Lagos—A 39-year-old bricklayer, who allegedly threw a sex worker inside a gutter after raping her, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos. The bricklayer, Richard Edet, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and rape preferred against him by the police.
The prosecutor, Corporal Friday Mameh, told the court that the defendant, sometimes in June, committed the alleged offence when he met the complainant, one Gloria Obihor, at a party where he told her that he works with Mobil. He said that the defendant unlawfully assaulted the complainant sexually. According to Mameh, “the defendant and the complainant met again in August at 1004 Estate in Victoria Island and then headed for a bar.
They took a taxi and the defendant pointed at a house and said that was his residence. “After they left the bar, the defendant raped the victim, threw her inside a gutter and stole her property and money. She shouted for help, but nobody was around to help her.” The properties that were stolen by the defendant are Samsung X6 phone, valued at N92,000; Malado wristwatch, valued N40,000; perfume valued at N16,000 and a cash sum of N13,000.
The complainant saw him at Oniru Beach and raised alarm. But he escaped, only to be caught at Oniru Estate, after he was hit by a vehicle while trying to escape again. According to him, the offence is punishable under Sections 285 and 259 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2011. However, the defendant pleaded innocence to the two-count charge preferred against him. Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya granted him bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum, who must be employed in a limited liability company, be tax payers and their addresses verified. The case was then adjourned till September 23.
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